WGS.301
Feminist Thought
Analyzes theories of gender and politics, especially ideologies of gender and their construction; definitions of public and private spheres; gender issues in citizenship, the development of the welfare state, experiences of war and revolution, class formation, and the politics of sexuality. Graduate students are expected to pursue the subject in greater depth through reading and individual research.
Fall 2023
This course analyzes theories of gender and politics, especially ideologies of gender and their construction; definitions of public and private spheres; and gender issues in citizenship, the development of the welfare state, experiences of war and revolution, class formation, and the politics of sexuality.
Readings
- [C] = Eli Clare, Exile and Pride (South End Press, 1999). 978-0822360315.
- [E] = Cynthia Enloe, Twelve Feminist Lessons of War (University of California Press, 2023). 978-0520397675.
- [H] = Jack Halberstam, Trans*: A Quick and Quirky Account of Gender Variability (University of California Press, 2018). 978-0520292697.
- [K] = Ibram Kendi, How to be an Antiracist (Penguin Random House, 2019). 978-0525509301.
- [KI] = Robin Wall Kimmerer, Braiding Sweetgrass (Milkweed Editions, 2015). 978-1571313560.
- [M] = Heather McGhee, The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together. (One World, 2021). 978-0525509561.
- Paisley Currah, “The Work That Sex Does." In Intimate States: Gender, Sexuality, and Governance in Modern U.S. History. Edited by Margot Canaday, Nancy F. Cott, and Robert O. Self. (University of Chicago Press, 2021). 978-0226794754.
- Marilyn Frye (1983), “Oppression.” In Gender Basics: Feminist Perspectives on Women and Men. 2 nd ed. Edited by Anne Minas. (Cengage Learning, 2000). 978-0534528393.
- Reading (if you have time)
- Optional video
- Recommended (on being bi-)
- [H] Chapter 4: Trans* Generations.
- [H] Chapter 6: Making Trans* Feminism.
- [H] Chapter 5: Trans* Representation.
- Wahneema Lubiano, “Black Ladies, Welfare Queens, and State Minstrels: Ideological War by Narrative Means.” In Race-ing Justice, En-gendering Power. Edited by Toni Morrison. (Pantheon, 1992). 978-0679741459.
- Nancy Folbre, “The Nanny State.” Chapter 4 in The Invisible Heart: Economics and Family (New Press, 2001). 978-1565846555.
- Crittenden, Ann, “How Mothers’ Work Was ‘Disappeared’: The Invention of the Unproductive Housewife.” Chapter 3 in The Price of Motherhood: Why the Most Important Job in the World Is Still the Least Valued (Picador, 2010). 978-0312655402.
- ———, “The Welfare State Versus a Caring State.” Chapter 10 in The Price of Motherhood: Why the Most Important Job in the World Is Still the Least Valued (Picador, 2010). 978-0312655402.
- For reference
- Recommended podcast
- Session 17: Twelve feminist lessons of war
- [E] Chapter 8: Feminists Organize While War Is Raging.
- [E] Chapter 10: Militarization Starts during Peacetime.
- [E] Chapter 11: Ukranian Feminists Lessons to Teach Us about War.
- Amia Srinivasan, “Sex, Carceralism, Capitalism.” Chapter 6 in The Right to Sex (Picador Paper, 2022). 978-1250858795.
- Lisa Duggan, Nan D. Hunter, and Carole S. Vance, “False Promises: Feminist Anti-Pornography Legislation.” Chapter 3 in Sex Wars: Sexual Dissent and Political Culture (Routledge, 2006). 978-0415978736.
- Amia Srinivasan, Excerpts from “Talking to My Students About Porn.” Chapter 2 in The Right to Sex (Picador Paper, 2022). 978-1250858795.
- adrienne maree brown, “Pleasure Dome: You Can Say Yes to Pornography and Accountability.” Bitch Media. 2019.
- [KI] “ Mishkos Kenomagwen : The Teachings of Grass.”
- [KI] “ Umbilicaria : The Belly Button of the World.”
- ———, “Love as Political Resistance.” In Pleasure Activism: The Politics of Feeling Good (AK Press, 2019). 978-1849353267.
- ———, “Principles in Practice.” In Pleasure Activism: The Politics of Feeling Good (AK Press, 2019). 978-1849353267.
Prerequisites & course information
Same subject as 17.007[J] , 24.137[J] Subject meets with 17.006[J] , 24.637[J] Prereq: None U (Fall, Spring) 3-0-9 units. HASS-H
Sources
- Course catalogue ↗2026–2027
- MIT OpenCourseWare ↗Fall 2023
- MIT OCW calendar ↗
- MIT OCW syllabus ↗
- MIT OCW readings ↗
- Historical MIT OpenCourseWare offering. Named reading entries and schedule topics are automatically extracted from the linked source pages.