69583 - Gender Studies (1) (LM)

Learning outcomes

This course introduces students to the theoretical and methodological foundations of the interdisciplinary field of Gender Studies. The course maps the genealogy and main contemporary debates in feminist, LGBT and queer studies, with particular attention to the study of queer sexual cultures.

Course contents

This course offers an introduction to Gender Studies, within an interdisciplinary academic field that explores critical questions about the meaning of gender in society. The main objective of this course is to familiarize students with key issues, questions and debates. We will critically analyze the issues of gender performance and power across a range of social spheres, such as law, culture, education, work,  social policy, medical issues, and family.

Throughout the semester, we will discuss and analyze: 

• Why societies rotates around gender as a primary organizing principle
• How do "gendered descriptions" for clothing, look, and behavior arise in society and throughout history
• How sexual division of labor can be explained, explored and interpreted
• "This is a job for men, this is a job for women": how such a division became determinant in patriarchal society
• The ways gender interconnects with race, ethnicity and sexuality
• How gendered structures of power and authority function
• What causes concur to the development of movements against or pro gender equality and fluidity
• How we can imagine a future where we go beyond gender or foresee gender and sexuality in a more egalitarian way

 

Readings/Bibliography

Tentative bibliography, subject to change - please check this site on regular basis. 

ALL MATERIAL DISTRIBUTED IN CLASS AND/OR UPLOADED ON THE PLATFORM - AS WELL AS ALL THE VIDEOS THAT WILL BE SHOWN DURING CLASS ARE CONSIDERED AS PART OF BIBLIOGRAPHY

EXCERPTS FROM BOOKS - AND ARTICLES

- bell, hooks, Black women: shaping feminist theory, in Ann E. Cudd e Robin O. Andreasen (a cura di), Feminist theory: a philosophical anthology, Oxford, UK; Malden, Massachusetts, Blackwell Publishing, 2005, pp. 60–68

- Braidotti, Rosi, The Posthuman, Polity Press, 2013

- Butler, Judith, Gender Trouble: Feminism and the Subversion of Identity, Routledge, 1990; second edition 1999.

- Butler, Judith, 1993, Bodies that Matter. On the Discoursive Limits of “Sex”.New York and London: Routledge, 1996, Corpi che Contano. I limiti discorsivi del “sesso”Trad. S. Capelli. Milano: Feltrinelli. (selected chapters and Italian Introduction by A. Cavarero)

- Cavarero, Adriana, Nonostante Platone. Figure femminili nella filosofia antica, Editori Riuniti ,1990, seconda edizione 1999

- Cavarero, Adriana, Politicizing Theory, in Political Theory, 30(2002), pp. 506–532.

- Coates, Jennifer (2016) Women, Men and Language:A Sociolinguistic Account of Gender Differences in Language(3rd ed.). Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon New York, NY: Routledge

-  Irigaray, Luce, 1980, "When our Lips Speak Together" (L. Irigaray; C. Burke) in Signs, vol 6, n. 1, 1980, 69-79, Chicago UP. online http://eyegiene.sdsu.edu/2006/spring/imperialbedroom/luceirigaryLIPS.pdf https://www.didaweb.net/risorse/visita.php?url=http://www.women.it/les/testi/labbra.htm

- Spivak, Gayatri C, 1985, “Can the Subaltern Speak? Speculations on Widow-Sacrifice.” Wedge (Winter-Spring 1985), 7-8:120-130. Issue entitled "The Imperialism of Representation/The Representation of Imperialism. (available online)

 - Wood, Julia T. (2013). Gendered Lives: Communication, Gender, and Culture (10th ed.). Boston, MA: Wadsworth.

Teaching methods

Lectures, dialogue and discussion - intended as active participation on the side of the students. Films, songs, theatrical pieces, etc. will be used.

THE DAY OF THE EXAM STUDENTS WILL HAVE TO PRESENT  A TOPIC CHOSEN AMONG THOSE DISCUSSED DURING CLASS - OR CLOSELY RELATED using methodologies of their choice ( power point, traditional lecture, etc.) 

STUDENTS ARE KINDLY ASKED TO NOTIFY THE TEACHER ABOUT THE TOPICS CHOSEN AT LEAST ONE WEEK IN ADVANCE.

Course languages: English and Italian

The bibliography and other information will also be provided during the lessons (and then eventually updated on the platform). In the event that some students are unable to attend, they are kindly requested to contact the teacher before the beginning of the course. Students must check the program online also during the course to be informed about any changes, further notices etc.

Assessment methods

Active participation in class is essential, so it will be worth 15% of the final grade

 

Final oral exam, including, besides the topic of choice, two questions related to the program: 85%

Students will have to demonstrate their knowledge of  theories and of the assigned texts, as well as their ability to analyze the texts in relation to theories.

Teaching tools

In addition to lectures, power point presentations, films, visual texts, songs, documentaries will also be used.

Office hours

See the website of Silvia Boero