Caption: The heading row descibes the categories of information about the course,
while the row in the table body holds the course information itself.
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Course Prefix
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Course Number
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Course Title
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Lecture/Lab Hours
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Credit Hours
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PHI
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232
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Philosophy and Gender
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3 Lecture/Demonstration Hours
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3 Credit Hours
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Course description
Introduces philosophical thinking and its application to issues concerning women.
Explores a variety of theories by and about women. Considers a number of issues including
images of women, biological vs. social conditioning, the relation to gender to class
and race, women’s spirituality, education, family work, violence and pornography.
Men are welcome to take the course.
Topical outline
I. Issues addressed by Feminists
A. Images of women
B. Gender, class, race and other categories
C. Biological determinism vs. social construction
D. Essentialism vs. pluralism
E. omen's spirituality
F. School, family, work
G. Violence, pornography
H. Personal empowerment and working for social change
II. The nature of philosophical thinking
A. The relationship between philosophical assumptions and empirical inquiry
B. The relationship between philosophical, literary,a nd personal expression
C. Theories about the world, nature, knowledge, and values
III. Alternative Feminist theories
A. Liberal
B. Conservative
C. Radical
D. Post-modernist
Method of presentation
- Lecture
- Class Discussion
- Other:
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- Film, video and other media
- Student presentations
- Guest lecturers, as appropriate
Student outcomes
- identify several issues faced by women in today’s world.
- explain the alternative theories concerning these issues developed by feminist writers.
- explain the philosophical assumptions concerning the world, nature, knowledge and
values embedded in these positions.
- recognize these theories and assumptions in speeches and writings.
- apply these theories to new situations.
- formulate a personal philosophy concerning these issues.
World Culture and Diversity
- describe the interdependence and interconnectedness of world systems (e.g., financial,
technological, economic, political, religious, etc) and their components (e.g., nations,
ethnic groups, social classes, etc.).
- describe ways in which marginalized groups define and express themselves, and the
contexts
in which these definitions are constructed.
- explain how race, class, gender and other categories of difference are socially constructed,
flexible, and overlapping; how identities and their representations change over time;
and/or how different identities intersect with one another and are shaped by power,
privilege and systemic discrimination.
- demonstrate cultural awareness, sensitivity, diversity and cultural competency (e.g.,
reflecting on one’s own personal identities, biases and personal prejudices, and/or
privilege; articulating how one’s own culture has shaped one’s identity and world
view; and/or viewing difference as a learning opportunity and seeking out opportunities
to communicate and participate constructively in a diverse community).
Method of evaluation
Typical classroom techniques
Course content learning outcomes
Additional assessment information (optional)
- Papers
- Class presentations
- Group work
Textbooks
Required
- Lee, Wendy. Contemporary Feminist Theory and Activism: Six Global Issues. Broadview
Press, 2009
- Tong, Rosemarie Putnam. Feminist Thought: A More Comprehensive Introduction. 3rd Edition.
Westview Press, 2008
Supplementary materials
None
Software
None
Updated: Fall 2020
