University of the West of England

MODULE SPECIFICATION

(Revised November 2002)

Code: UPSN7E-30-M Title: Feminist Theory Version: 2

Level: M UWE credit rating: 30 ECTS credit rating: 15

Module type: Standard

Owning Faculty: Social Sciences and Humanities Field: Sociology

Valid from: September 2008 Discontinued from:

Contributes towards: Postgraduate awards up to MA/MSc

Pre-requisites: None

Co-requisites: None

Excluded combinations: None

Learning outcomes:

1. By the end of the module, students will be able to demonstrate an appropriate level of understanding of the central issues in epistemology and the feminist critique of these

2. Students will be able to demonstrate a correspondingly appropriate understanding of key issues in feminist ethics

3. Students will be able to develop an analytical argument on the above subject and articulate the argument orally and in writing

4. Students will have an awareness of the field of feminist theory in the two domains mentioned above.

Outcome 3 will be specifically promoted through component 1 of the assessment, all outcomes will be promoted through component 2.

Syllabus outline:

1. Central issues in epistemology

2. The various forms of feminist critique of these.

3. What is ethical thinking and can there be a feminist ethic?

4. Critiques of the various feminist theories.

Teaching and learning methods:

This module will emphasise student participation through student led presentation and group work using a range of approaches, including debates and close readings of texts. There will also be lectures from staff.

Indicative sources:

Alcoff, L. and Potter, E. (1993) Feminist Epistemologies, London: Routledge.

Assiter,A. (1996) Enlightened Women, London: Routledge

Benhabib, S. (1987) Feminism as Critique: Essays on the Politics of Gender in Late Capitalist Societies, Cambridge: Polity Press.

Code.L. (1991) What Can She Know? Ithaca, Cornell University Pres.

Longino, H. (1990) Science as Social Knowledge, Princeton: Princeton University Press.

Potter,G and Lopez,J. (2001) After Postmodernism, and introduction to Critical Realism, New York: Athlone Press.

Foucault,M.(1984) What is Enlightenment? In The Foucauilt Reader, ed. P. Rabinow, Harmondsworth;Penguin.

Harding,S.(1991) Whose Science? Whose Knowledge? Thinking from Women’s Lives, Oxford: OUP.

Horkheimer, M and Adorno, T (1994) Dialectic of Enlightenment. New York: Continuum.

Hubbard, R. (1983) Have only Men Evolved? In Harding and Hintikka eds. Feminist Perspectives in Epistemology: Methodology and the Philosophy of Science, London: Reidel.

Gilligan, C.(1982) In a Different Voice:Psychology and Women’s Moral Development. Cambridge,MA: Harvard university Press.

Grimshaw, J (1986) Feminist Philosophers, Brighton:Wheatsheaf.

Kant,I. (1956) Groundwork of the Metaphysic of Morals in The Moral Law, ed. J.Paton, London:Hutchinson.

Lacan, J. (1977) Ecrits: A Selection. London: Tavistock

Lloyd, G. (1984)The Man of Reason: Male and Female in Western Philosophy, London:Methuen.

MacIntyre,A. (1988) Whose Justice? Which Rationality? London: Duckworth.

Yuval-Davis, N. and Werbner, P. (1999) Women Citizenship and Difference, London: Zed Books.

Zizek, S. (1993) Tarrying with the Negative. Durham: Duke University Press.

Journals: Gender Studies, Feminist Theory, Radical Philosophy.

Assessment

Weighting between components A and B (standard modules at levels 0-3 only)

A: 25% B: 75%

ATTEMPT 1

First Assessment Opportunity

Component A

Description of each element Element weighting

1. Viva Voce in defence of essay (20 mins approx.) 25%

Component B

Description of each element Element weighting

1. 4,000 word piece of written work - debate or series of reviews or essay 75%

Second Assessment Opportunity (further attendance at taught classes is not required)

Component A

Description of each element Element weighting

1. Viva Voce in defence of essay (20 mins approx.) 25%

Component B

Description of each element Element weighting

1. 4,000 word essay 75%

SECOND (OR SUBSEQUENT) ATTEMPT Attendance at taught classes is not required.

Specification confirmed by …………………………………… Date ……………………………

(Associate Dean/Programme Director)

Back to top