26015 - Women's Movements Worldwide - I Movimenti delle Donne nel Mondo

Learning outcomes

The student possesses an in-depth knowledge of feminist historiography and of the origin of women's history in different cultural contexts and acquires methodological tools that will allow him to research autonomously in these areas.

Course contents

Women's movements worldwide have significantly contributed to the construction of modern societies and persistently continue to address inequalities. By adopting an interdisciplinary perspective, the course will examine the development of women’s individual and collective actions worldwide, and will explore how women have organised across different social, political, economic and cultural contexts, from the early twentieth century to the present. Challenges to inequality, the quest for labour rights, civil rights, human rights, peace, social and environmental justice together with the influence of digital technologies, globalisation, international and transnational organisations and associations will be investigated to understand the origins, strategies and goals of women's movements worldwide.

The intersections between sex, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, sexuality, disability, class and the many dimensions of identity and the many relations with power will be assessed also through the critical reading of original sources.

Students will be encouraged to critically engage with case studies, critical texts and historical debates. By the end of the course, students will develop a comprehensive understanding of women's movements. They will also be able to evaluate and communicate competing interpretations, and the diversity of women’s experiences as agents of transformation.

This course will be held in English.

 

Provisional planning (subject to change):

1. Introduction Feminism/Women’s Movements.

2. Women’s Movements and Globalisation.

3. Transnational Women’s Mobilisation and the UN.

4. UN and Women.

5. Islamic Feminism.

6. Islamic Feminism.

7. Latin America.

8. Latin America.

9. Asia.

10. Asia.

11. Africa.

12. Africa.

13. Wages for Housework. An international perspective.

14. Wages for Housework. An international perspective.

15. Italy and Feminisms.

 

 

Students with SLDs or temporary or permanent disabilities: we suggest that you contact the relevant university office ( https://site.unibo.it/ studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/ en [https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en] ) and your teacher immediately to work together to find the most effective strategies for attending classes and/or preparing for exams.
Any requests for exam accommodations must be made at least 15 days before the date of the exam, by sending an email to the teacher and copying (Cc) the email address disabilita@unibo.it (in case of disability) or dsa@unibo.it (for students with Specific Learning Difficulties).

Readings/Bibliography

Bibliography:

Edwards, Louise P., and Mina Roces, eds, Women’s Movements in Asia: Feminisms and Transnational Activism (Routledge, 2010).

Kwesiga, Joy, Isabel Casimiro, and Aili Mari Tripp, eds, African Women’s Movements: Transforming Political Landscapes (Cambridge University Press, 2009).

Maier, Elizabeth, and Nathalie Lebon, eds, Women’s Activism in Latin America and the Caribbean: Engendering Social Justice, Democratizing Citizenship (Rutgers University Press, 2010).

Rousseau, Stéphanie, and Anahi Morales Hudon, Indigenous Women’s Movements in Latin America: Gender and Ethnicity in Peru, Mexico, and Bolivia (Palgrave Macmillan, 2017).

Smith, Bonnie, ed., Global Feminism since 1945 (Routledge, 2000).

Additional reading materials will be suggested during the course.

Teaching methods

-Lectures

-Seminars with discussion and critical analysis of documents

-Guest speaker(s)

 

Assessment methods

Oral exam on 2 books chosen from the reading list + slides.

Office hours

See the website of Sara Delmedico