Introduction to Feminist Studies

Code:

FLUP0605

Acronym:

IESTFE

Instance: 2004/2005 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Anglo-American Studies
Institution Responsible:	Faculty of Arts

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
EFI	5	Official Study Plan - LEFI	2	2,5	5	-
			3
		Official Study Plan - LEFI	2	2,5	5	-
			3
			4
EIA	16	Official Study Plan - LEIA	2	2,5	5	-
			3
			4
		Plano oficial - 1º ao 3º ano	2	2,5	5	-
			3
EPI	7	Official Study Plan - LEPI	2	2,5	5	-
			3
		Official Study Plan - LEPI	2	2,5	5	-
			3
			4
		Plano oficial - 4º ao 5º ano	2	2,5	5	-
			3
		Plano oficial - 1º ao 3º ano	2	2,5	5	-
			3
		Plano oficial a partir de 2002	2	2,5	5	-
			3

Objectives

The aims of this subject, Introduction to Feminist Studies, lectured for the first time by the Faculty's Department of Anglo-American Studies, are as follows: to introduce students to a critical epistemological reflection, which may help them in future scientific research projects, as well as in the consolidation of their own view of the world, to identify the "situational character of the human being", and, consequently, encourage them to look for new ways of reaching knowledge; to debate silenced or shyly expressed issues (women's oppression, absence of their own traditions, absence of a "room that is theirs"); to help them reflect on the need to revise myths and on the possibility of creating a new language and a new speech; in short, to invite them to learn a new geography and new maps of understanding and of a common humanity, in a reciprocal learning process.

Program

Firstly, students will be introduced to the historical context of feminism, from late 19th century to the 1970's, a period which witnessed the emergence of a consciousness that "race" and gender are social constructions, and that will be characterised in literature by what is known as the "crisis of the canon", questioning the notions of a stable canon or the conformation of knowledge to the institutions.

Secondly, we will discuss the different feminist currents of thought in Europe and in Anglo-American countries, from the 1970's onwards until the end of the 20th century, responsible for (re)visions of History, sexual policies and literary critique, underscoring the importance of the representations of feminine and sexual difference in, and through, the language.

Main Bibliography

Amaral, Ana Luísa e Ana Gabriela Macedo, A palavra, a identidade e a cultura translativa. Para uma introdução ao Dicionário Terminológico de Conceitos da Crítica Feminista, in Maria Irene Ramalho e António Sousa Ribeiro (orgs.), Entre ser e estar: raízes, percursos e discursos da identidade. vol. 8, Porto: Afrontamento, 2002, pp. 383-408.

Barreno, Maria Isabel, Maria Velho da Costa e Maria Teresa Horta. Novas Cartas Portuguesas. Lisboa: D. Quixote, 1998 [1972].

Beauvoir, Simone de. O segundo sexo. Amadora: Bertand, 1981 [1949].

Beasley, Chris. What is Feminism: An Introduction to Feminist Theory. London, Sage,1999.

Bloom, Harold. The Anxiety of Influence: A Theory of Poetry. London, Oxford, New York: Oxford University Press, 1973.

Bloom, Harold. O Cânone ocidental: os livros e a escola das idades. Trad. e Introd. Manuel Frias Martins. Lisboa: Temas e Debates, 1997 [1994].

Bordo, Susan, "Feminism, Postmodernism, and Gender-Skepticism", in Linda J. Nicholson (ed. and introd.), Feminism / Postmodernism. New York and London: Routledge, 1990, pp. 133-156.

Chodorow, Nancy. "Gender as a Personal and Cultural Construction." Signs 20.3 (Spring 1995): pp. 516-44.

DuPlessis, Rachel Blau. The Pink Guitar: Writing as Feminist Practice. New York: Routledge, 1990.

Eagleton, Mary (ed.). Feminist Literary Criticism. London, Longman, 1991.

Freedman, Jane. Feminism: Concepts in the Social Sciences. Open University Press, 2001.

Gilbert, Sandra and Susan Gubar. The Mad Woman in the Attic: The Woman Writer and the Nineteenth Century Imagination. New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 1979.

Gilbert, Sandra and Susan Gubar, "Sexual Linguistics: Gen-der, Language, Sexuality”. New Literary History. 16. 3 (Spring 1985): pp. 515-541.

Humm, Maggie. The Dictionary of Feminist Theory . Harvester Wheatsheaf,1995.

Jackson, Stevi et al (eds.). Women's Studies: A Reader .London: Longman, 1993.

Jacobus, Mary (ed.). Reading Woman: Essays in Feminist Criticism. New York: Columbia University Press, 1986.

Macedo, Ana Gabriela. "Os Estudos Feministas revisitados: finalmente visíveis?" in Helena Buescu et al. (orgs.). A floresta encantada: novos caminhos da Literatura Comparada. Lisboa: Dom Quixote, 2001. pp. 271-288.

Macedo, Ana Gabriela (org.). Género, identidade e desejo: antologia crítica do feminismo contemporâneo. Lisboa: Cotovia, 2002.

Magalhães, Isabel Allegro de. O Sexo dos Textos. Lisboa: Caminho, 1994.

Merck, Nancy, et al.. Coming Out of Feminism?. Oxford: Blackwell, 1998.

Moi, Toril. "Feminist, Female, Feminine" in Catherine Belsey e Jane Moore (eds.). The Feminist Reader: Essays in Gender and the Politics of Literary Criticism. London: Macmillan, 1989. pp. 117-132.

Montefiore, Jan. Feminism and Poetry: Language, Experience, Identity in Women's Writing. London: Pandora Press, 1987.

Morris, Pam. Literature and Feminism: An Introduction. London, Blackwell, 1993.

Ramalho, Maria Irene, "Os Estudos sobre as Mulheres e o saber: onde se conclui que o poético é feminista". ex aequo. 5 (2001): pp. 107- 122.

Ribeiro, António Sousa e Maria Irene Ramalho, "Dos Estudos Literários aos Estudos Culturais" in Helena Buescu et al. (orgs.). A floresta encantada: novos caminhos da Literatura Comparada. Lisboa: Dom Quixote, 2001. pp. 61-82.

Rich, Adrienne. Blood, Bread and Poetry: Selected Prose, 1979-1985. New York: W. W. Norton, 1986.

Rich, Adrienne. What is Found There: Notebooks on Poetry and Politics. New York: W. W. Norton, 1993.

Ruthven, K. K. Feminist Literary Studies: An Introduction. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1984.

Santos, Maria Irene Ramalho de Sousa, "A Sogra de Rute ou Intersexualidades", in Boaventura de Sousa Santos (org.), Globalização: Fatalidade ou Utopia?. vol. 7, Porto: Afrontamento, 2001, pp. 525-555.

Santos, Maria Irene Ramalho de Sousa e Ana Luísa Amaral. "Sobre a 'escrita feminina'." Oficina do Centro de Estudos Sociais

Complementary Bibliography

References to additional readings will be indicated throughout the semester.

Teaching methods and learning activities

Theoretical-practical classes.

A variety of methodologies will be used: lectures, commentaries, group analysis and presentation of assignments. Since this subject is designed to offer a shared debate engaging students in reflection and discussion, different texts will be commented on and analyzed in class (poems, short tales, essay excerpts), compiled into an anthology which students shall acquire at the Faculty's Reprography Office.

Evaluation Type

Eligibility for exams

The overall average of the marks obtained in each assessment task shall result in a positive mark.

Calculation formula of final grade

Average sum of the marks obtained in each assessment task.

Examinations or Special Assignments

Not applicable.

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

Not applicable.

Classification improvement

According to the Assessment Regulations.

Observations

Language of instruction: Portuguese.