Feminist activism has long been a global phenomenon. How do we understand feminist theories and practices in various locations as well as the relationships between feminisms in the north and the south, the east and the west, and the local and global? When racial relations, sexuality, and reproductive rights dominate the feminist discourse in the U.S., are they also issues that concern feminists and how are they approached in other countries? Without assuming a universal course of feminism, this course adopts a comparative approach in investigating the complexity of contemporary feminisms from around the world by engaging with global politics, teasing out theoretical path stemming from histories, differences, and concurrences that frame contemporary feminist thinking. Focusing on the ways in which systems of power are interrelated, we will examine theoretical texts, empirical studies, films/videos, performing and visual arts, and blogs.
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Feedback from students
“The instructor created an open classroom environment which allowed for all of the students to discuss their viewpoints without hesitation.”
“I truly enjoyed this class. It opened my eyes to the different perspectives of not only feminism, but women around the world. I also thoroughly enjoyed the fact that the course did not require students to buy any textbooks. From my experience, most women’s study course require multiple, expensive textbooks so this was a blessing.”
“I loved how Sarah made the ideas taught throughout the course very applicable to everyday life. She thoroughly explained everything and really encouraged us to think critically.”
“I liked that there was so much diversity in the class and you got to hear about other peoples lives from their point of view.”
“I loved the community of the classroom!”
“I really liked how interesting and new the topics were.This was not a boring class at all. People were very open to discussion which allowed for fun informative classes.”
“I liked the multimedia components and learning about feminism in various parts of the world. I also like how it challenged my beliefs and flipped them completely upside down…”
“Class discussion is extremely helpful. Many ideas the readings introduced were pretty abstract, so being able to talk about them really solidified my understanding of it. Also leading a lecture required us to become an expert in at least one concept, which is always a good thing.”