Womens Studies 2015

Fall Semester, 2015

11 class meetings

Feminism
Demonic Bra-Burners?

Destroyers of
Society
Believers of female superiority?

Advocates for a woman to be a person?

An Introduction
In the mid 1960s, Betty Friedan, author of The Feminine Mystique, forged a new image and vision for women.
In doing so, she brought to the forefront the word, feminist. She did not propose that man was the enemy; in
fact, she stated, Men weren't really the enemy -- they were fellow victims suffering from an outmoded
masculine mystique that made them feel unnecessarily inadequate when there were no bears to kill. Basically
she believed, When she (woman) stopped conforming to the conventional picture of femininity she finally
began to enjoy being a woman. In other words, when a woman stopped allowing society to define her role, she
was free to be a woman.

Friedans use of the term feminist was not the birth of womans struggle to gain equality and the rights
enjoyed by men throughout time. It was simply a new wave focusing on a broader definition of rights.
Feminism is not a twentieth century phenomenon. In the U.S., feminism thought was expressed by colonial
women; First Lady Abigail Adams advocated for the inclusion of women in the new political framework. The
official first wave occurred in the 19the century, focusing on the right to vote. In the 1960s, the second wave
emerged when women sought the rights and the opportunities that made them human. The Second Wave
feminist fought for the freedom to make decisions impacting their futures and to attain the status enjoyed by
men. The third wave surfaced in the 1980s in response to the backlash to the second wave.

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In the U.S. Abigail Adams, Crystal Eastman, Elizabeth Blackwell, and Amelia Bloomer advanced the feminist
perspective long before Betty Friedan and Gloria Steinam. However, socio-economic institutions blocked the
efforts women in each century.
Rationale
Many times, the word feminism conjures up stark images. Bra burners, destruction of the family, and radicals
disturbing the peace are just a few scenes that flash forth when the word feminist is mentioned. However,
feminism is not anti- anything; it simply means that we recognize the value and the contributions women make
when allowed to live freely and under their own volition. In this introductory LAP, the student will examine the
positive aspects of being a feminist so as to gain a better understanding and appreciation for the contributions
they can make to their community.
The ideology of patriarchy subordinates women even in the 21 st century and as a result women have been
struggling to achieve their voice within the political, economic, and social systems for centuries

Objectives
1. Compare and contrast the various types of feminism
2. Evaluate what is meant by the term feminism
3. Describe the stages of feminism
4. Analyze why individuals are opposed to the idea of feminism
5. Evaluate why myths exists regarding feminism.
6. Terms to know: androcentrism, gender, womens movement, patriarchy, feminism, liberal feminism, radical
feminism, lesbian feminism, Marxist feminism, socialist feminism, global feminism, international womens
issues, third wave feminism, feminist backlash, postfeminism, postmodernism,
7. People To Know: Alice Paul, Susan B. Anthony, NAWSA, NOW, Gloria Steinam, ERA, Elizabeth Cady Stanton,
Feminist Mystique, Betty Freidan

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Assignments not connected with a specific activity
1. Discussion Board- your discussion prompt is: Why is the topic of feminism such an emotional issue.
Follow the syllabus for specific directions. Go to Turnitin.com. Your class id is 6805704 and your
password is gender. . Your initial submission is due Sept 6, your reactions by September 13.
2. Project: Working in groups of 2 to 4 people, create a video on what does feminism mean today.
Rubric will be on www.rothiwa.com. September 22

Essential Questions:

Is feminism destructive?
Which theory of feminism is most valid?

Class Meeting

Day and Date

Focus of Class

Assignment Due
That Class
Meeting

First

A Day Aug 17 Beauty

B Day Aug 18 Male

Introduce course

None

Second

B Day Aug 18 Beauty

D Day Aug 20 Male
D Day Aug 20 Beauty
E Day Aug 21 Male

Movie- Iron Jaw Angels

None

Movie

None

E Day Aug 21 Beauty

G Day Aug 25 Male
H Day Aug 26 Beauty
J Day Aug27 Male

Movie

None (be working on

project)
None (be working on
project)

A Day Aug 31 Beauty

B Day Sept 1 Male
B Day Sept 1 Beauty
D Day Sept 3 Male
D Day Sept 3 Beauty
E Day Sep 4 Male

The issues of feminism

Assignment 1-1

Myths and History of

Feminism
The impact of feminism

Assignment 1-2

Ninth

E Day Sept 4 Beauty

G Day Sept 9 Male

Assignment 1-4

Tenth

G Day Sept 9 Beauty

J Day Sept 11 Male

Specific Feminist
Theories
New Feminism

Eleventh

H Day Sept 10 Beauty

K Day Sept 14 Male

Global Feminism

Tie Up LAP

Third

Fourth
Fifth

Sixth
Seventh
Eighth

Feminist Activity

Assignment 1-3

Assignment 1-5

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Assignments

Due Dates

1.1 Handout 1

Sixth Class

1.2 Complete Handout 2

Answer the questions on Handout 2 then
Submit via Google Classroom

Seventh Class

1.3. . View the video in OL complete

the worksheet available in OL .

Eighth Class

1.4 Read the lecture

Ninth Class

http://education-portal.com/academy/lesson/feminism-types-and-definitions-liberal-socialistculture-radical.html#lesson

1.5 Read pages 28-40:

Tenth Class

1.6 What do you believe is important about the feminist

movement.? Answer then submit via Google Classoom.
Utilize the readings to support your answer 8-12
sentences.

Enrichment
1. The learning activity on page 7. Visit the website and answer the questions. Submit via
email. 3 points
2. Investigate one of the women in the Hall of Fame. Create a pamphlet or ppt about her
life and contributions. Include your sources as part of your submission. Submit via email
3 points

Test
Your test will be two-fold. In the testing center you will take a closed book test over the terms to know and
people to know listed in the objectives and a critical thinking reading . This test is to be taken between
September 10-13. The critical thinking portion of the test will be a take home test. It will be based on the
remaining objectives. It will not be factual regurgitation but more application and deduction. Included in this
test will be questions using a primary source. This will be due by September 22.

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Handout One
Read:
1. We by Mary Grimm
2. "The Problem that Has No Name" by Betty Friedan
Both are available on www.rothiwa.com
As you read WE, prepare the following questions for class
discussion:
1. How do the narrators feelings about marriage change over the course of the
story? Trace the changes using specific examples.
2. How does the story make you feel?
3. What things in the story surprised you?
4. What do you think is the significance of each of the following lines?
a. -I had a feeling like Whats next?
b. . . . from the first words we said to each other we knew we were going to
be friends. I had thought that wouldnt happen now that I was married.
c. For a while we couldnt like her as well as we had, and we looked for signs
that her little girl was suffering from day care.
d. We were surprised to find ourselves thinking again, it had been so long.
e. . . . now that we were conscious again?
f. Everything went on a little while longer, until we got to the end of this
period in our lives, until we stopped looking for something that we didnt
have or know.
g. But do we miss it, what we had together when there was no one else in
the world but mothers and children?
5. What do you think the central point of the story is? What point is Grimm trying to
make?
In the Friedan article:
1. What was the problem that has no name?

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Enrichment
1. Read How to be a Good Wife available on Edline. Complete the
following questions. Submit via Google 5 points

create two lists as they read the instructions.

o Things a wife should do
o Things a wife must not do.
Questions:
o How do these instructions show us peoples perceptions of
womens work in the 1950s?
o What can we assume about the perceptions of mens work from
these instructions?
o What appears to be a wifes ultimate responsibility toward her
husband according to these instructions?
o Whose comfort appears to be the primary focus in the household?
Why?

2. Write yourself a letter 10 points

a. Reflect on these questions
a) Do you consider yourself a feminist? Why or why not?
b) How do you define the term feminist?
c) Which of the following issues are important to you? Explain why
those you noted are important to you. (If necessary, limit your
discussion to those you feel most strongly about.) If none are
important to you, focus on a few and explain why these issues
are not important to you.
1. Equal opportunity in education
2. Equal opportunity in employment
Equal pay
A womans right to control her body
Sexual freedom
Violence against women (rape, domestic abuse, etc.)
Maternity leave
Childcare
d) at problems do you imagine encountering in the future in
working out
your role as a woman or as a man?
e) Has the feminist movement made life in the United States
better? Why or why not?

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PART ii. Writing Assignment

f) Using the material generated from these questions and class

discussion, write a letter to yourself expressing your opinions on
some of the above issues clearly. Be sure your letter is very
specific in terms of offering reasons for your views. Think about
this: what in your experience has led you to believe what you
do?

Handout Two
Read the following articles then answer the following questions. Submit
via google.
a. http://mariashriver.com/blog/2014/04/modern-feminist-qualities-susanhyatt/
1. What is feminism?
2. What is a feminist? What are qualities a feminist exhibits?
3. Are you a feminist? Why
4. Has feminism been a positive influence in the U.S.? Why?
5. Do you believe women should have- explain your answer:
Equal opportunity in education
Equal opportunity in employment
Equal pay
the right to control her body
Sexual freedom
Freedom from violence
Maternity leave
easy access to childcare

Womens Studies 2015