Philo 25: Feminist Philosophical Texts Syllabus

SAINT LOUIS UNIVERISTY

BAGUIO CITY

SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES

GRADUATE SCHOOL PROGRAM IN PHILOSOPHY:

Master of Arts in Philosophy

PHILOSOPHY DEPARTMENT

Prepared by: Atty. Mark Gil J. Ramolete, MA Philos

Philo 25: Feminist Philosophical Texts

Course Description

Feminism is a movement or a frame of mind which takes a multi-disciplinary approach to sex and gender imbalances understood through social theories and political activism.  In the course of  humanity’s story, feminism has evolved from the critical examination of imbalances between the sexes to a more nuanced focus on the social and performative constructions of sexuality and gender.

The campaigns on reproductive rights, domestic violence, gay marriage, and workplace issues such as family, medical leave, equal pay, sexual harassment and discrimination are areas of concern or focus of feminist political activism.

Where any form of stereotyping, objectification, infringements of human rights, or gender or sexuality based oppression occurs, there exist a feminist issue.

Course Objectives:

Feminist theory seeks to inquire into gender imbalances and to effect change in areas where gender and sexual politics create power imbalances, hence, intellectual and academic interpolations of these power imbalances would seek to enable the learners in this course to go into the world aware of injustices and to work toward changing unhealthy gender dynamics in any scenario.

Course Outline:

1.  What is feminism?

2.  Introductory discussion on feminism

a.   A Bedtime Story

3.  The 3 Waves in the Feminist Movement

4.  Pedagogical Mechanisms at Play in a Disciplinary Society

Note: Approximately 25 hours to be devoted on nos. 1-4, including the Midterm Examination

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5.  Gender Trouble

6.  Metaphysical Cannibalism

7.  Other related reading materials to be included in the duration course as need arises

Note: Approximately 25 hours to be devoted on nos. 5-7, including the Final Examination

Course Requirements:

1.  Quizzes

2.  Exams

3.  Recitations

4.  Letter to the Editor

Computation of Grades:

50% - Class Standing

50% - Major Examination

 References:

1.  Ti-Grace Atkinson, Radical Feminism, (New York, May 1969).

2.  Judith Butler, Psychic of Life Power, (Stanford, California: Stanford University Press, 1997).

3.  Judith Butler, Gender Trouble (Feminism and the Subversion of Idenity, (Great Britain: Routledge, 1999).

4.  Michel Foucault, Discipline and Punish: The Birth of the Prison, trans. Alan Sheridan, (New York: Random House, Inc., 1977).

5.  Michel Foucault, The History of Sexuality, Vol. 1: The Will to Knowledge, trans. Robert Hurley, (New York: Penguin Books, 1984).

6.  Michel Foucault, The History of Sexuality, Vol. 2: The Use of Pleasure, trans. Robert Hurley, (New York: Penguin Books, 1984).

7.  Luce Irigaray, Je, Tu, Nous: Towards a Culture of Difference, trans. Alison Martin (New York: Routledge, 1993).

8.    Luce Irigaray, Speculum of the Other Woman, trans. By Gillian C. Gill, (New York: Cornell University Press, 1992).

9.  Martha Nussbaum, Sex and Social Justice, (New York: Oxford University Press, 1999).

10.              Mark Gil J. Ramolete, A Feminist Discourse on Sexuality and the Reality of a Repressed Sexuality towards a Valorized Kabuuan, (Baguio City, Philippines: Saint Louis University, 2007).