Chandra Kumar
chandrak@yorku.ca
Office Location:  S401 Ross
Phone Number:  (416) 736-2100 Ext. 66449
Office Hours:  Tuesday 1:00 - 3:00

This course is an introduction to feminist theory as a political and philosophical enterprise. In it, we take up topics, questions and debates that have shaped the development of feminist philosophy, and which have been changed by feminist philosophy, in turn. Topics include the nature of sex and gender, the relationship between knowledge and emotion, the value of autonomy, political power and oppression, the gendered nature and origin of moral values, the roles of sameness, difference and domination in political equality, women and multiculturalism, and the intersections of gender, race and class oppressions. We will look at various versions of feminist political thought, including liberal feminism, postmodern feminism, and Marxist feminism.

Students are expected to come to class having done the readings for that class, and while there will be lectures, you will also be encouraged to participate in class discussions. It is important to attend lectures if you want to do well on the exams, for two reasons: i) some of the material on the exams will be from lectures and will not be in the readings, and ii) even if you have done the readings, some of these readings are hard, and key points from those readings will be covered in lectures. For some of the lectures, lecture notes or outlines will be provided (via email) to students, but not for every lecture.

There is no requirement to buy any books. All the readings will be accessible online or provided to you electronically. Some readings will be accessible through Scott Library e-resources (for which you will need your York Passport ID), some will be

accessible online (for which links will be provided), and some will be provided to you as attachments by the Course Director. You can, of course, print these out if you wish to have hard copies. A schedule with readings will be provided separately, in due course.

*Although there is no official participation mark, we will take into account student participation when assigning final grades. This means: i) you will not be penalized-meaning, you will not lose marks- for NOT participating in discussions, but ii) if you do consistently participate (in a reasonable way) in discussions, this may benefit you in terms of the final grade. Other than that, here are the components of your grade:

1. In-Class Exam, Wednesday, Feb. 5 (30%)
2. In-Class Exam, Wednesday, Mar. 11 (30%)
3. Take-Home Exam, due one week after the end of classes (40%)

Lecture

By the end of this course:

1. You should be able to identify, recognize and critically examine key questions, topics,

debates and themes introduced and shaped by feminist philosophy, and to identify key

thinkers associated with those theories. You should also be able to identify ways in which

feminist philosophers and philosophies have challenged and changed traditional

philosophical questions.

2. You should be able to think imaginatively and critically about the relationships between philosophical theories, feminist theories, and gender politics, and you should be able to apply that thinking to concrete topics.

3. You should develop basic reading and comprehension skills in philosophy: namely, the

ability to read a philosophical text carefully, to identify the author’s position, and to identify and evaluate the arguments she uses to support them.

4. You should develop basic analytic and communicative skills in philosophy; these include the ability to form a thesis statement, to support it with your own arguments and to defend it against possible objections.