ANTH/WS 312 

Photo: www. CodePink4Peace.org

Wednesdays  5:30 – 8:30 pm                                                         Hollins University
Pleasants 306                                                                                   Spring 2003
Office Hours: M/W 1:30-3:00, Pleasants 324
Contact Info: lcosta@hollins.edu; 362-6254

Be the change you want to see in the world. – Mahatma Gandhi

Course Description

In this course we will examine voluntary forms of collective action known as social movements from anthropological, feminist and interdisciplinary perspectives.  In many nations and cultures across the globe, people have organized social movements as a means to demand social justice and equality, the recognition of individual and community rights, and access to resources.  In this course we will focus on one group of people in particular, women.  We will examine some of the ways that women have organized at the local, national, regional and global level, both within and across differences of race, class, ethnicity, nationality, religion, geographic location and sexuality.  Course readings and class discussions will help focus our attention on the particular historical, economic and cultural contexts in which women act and the multiple power relations that they must negotiate.  This includes relationships with and interventions by state and international agencies, as well as the effects of globalization. We will consider women’s movements that have limited themselves to locally and nationally defined issues, as well as the larger global women’s movement that operates transnationally and translocally. We will look at women’s movements organized around issues of race & ethnicity, civil rights, peace and war, nationalism, and women’s rights among others, in places as diverse as Latin America, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the United States.

Pre-requisite: ANTH 145 or WS 141 or SOC 110 and junior or senior status.

NOTE:  This course fulfills the ESP requirement for Global Systems and Languages.

Course Objectives:

1. To develop a strong foundation for understanding women and social movements at the national (i.e. race in the United States) and global (i.e. international women’s movement) level in contemporary and historical contexts.
2. To explore the ways that women have utilized social movements to forge identities, relationships and networks within and across differences of race, class, sexuality, gender (i.e. with men), ethnicity, religion, and nationality.
3. To develop a conceptual framework for understanding social movements, women’s place(s) in those movements, and their impact on local, national and global contexts.
4. To provide insight into how communities of interdependence are articulated and maintained at local, national and global levels through the active and critical efforts of women to create social change and achieve social justice.

Required Texts

• Kuumba, M. Bahati. 2001. Gender and Social Movements.  Walnut Creek, CA: Alta Mira Press. 
• Naples, Nancy A., ed. 1998.  Community Activism and Feminist Politics: Organizing Across Race, Class and Gender.  New York: Routledge. (CA)
• Robnett, Belinda. 1997. How Long? How Long? African-American Women in the Struggle for Civil Rights. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
• Waller, Marguerite R. and Jennifer Rycenga, eds.  2000.  Frontline Feminisms: Women, War and Resistance.  New York: Routlege.  (FF)

Suggested Text

• Bobo, Kimberly, Jackie Kendall, Steve Max, Midwest Academy. 2001. Organizing for Social Change: Midwest Academy Manual for Activists.  Third Edition. Seven Locks Press.

Course Requirements

For this course to be successful and mutually beneficial to all, it requires the full participation of all members of the class.  It is essential that students come to class prepared, having completed ALL the required readings and any written assignments due.  Students should arrive ready to thoughtfully discuss, analyze and share their insights into/confusions about the material. If for any reason you believe you will be unable to fulfill these course requirements, see the professor immediately.

·        Attendance is required. Excessive absences will result in a grade reduction. Regular attendance and participation in course discussions are critical to your learning. On the second absence, your grade will be reduced.

·        Class participation is required and is part of your final grade. As part of the participation grade, students will be required to present summaries of the assigned readings to the class.  This will be discussed further in class.

·        Reading assignments are required.  Readings should be read BEFORE the class period in which they will be discussed.  Make sure to read the endnotes/footnotes as well.  Please come prepared with questions.

·        Assignments must be turned in on-time. No late assignments will be accepted.

Assignments & Grading:

Participation & Attendance                                                  20%

Letter to the Editor                                                                10%

Class Activism Project (Int’l Women’s Day)                       10%

Two Reflection Papers                                                         20%

Final Project                                                                          40%

Further information on the assignments will be provided in class.

Style Guide for Written Assignments

1. All papers should be typed, using 12 pt font only (12 pt Times is the preferable font), double spaced, with one-inch (1”) margins on all sides.
2. Please DO NOT USE COVER SHEETS. I consider this a waste of precious resources. Type your name, course number, paper title and any other identifying information at the top of the first page.
3. Remember to always KEEP A COPY of your paper in case of an emergency!
4. Please NUMBER ALL PAGES and using the footer, place your name at the bottom of each page.
5. USE THE SPELL CHECKER ON YOUR COMPUTER.  Excessive and needless misspelling will result in a reduction of your paper grade.
6. For citing material in your paper and in the references, please use the Chicago style. The guidelines for this style may be found at the Hollins Writing Center.

Policies & Expectations

By enrolling in this course, you agree to adhere to the following policies and expectations in addition to those cited above and those outlined in the Hollins Honor Code.

1.      You will participate in the course in a manner that is open, honest and respectful of other people’s opinions, ideas and beliefs.  This means allowing others the space to assert their views. Although you may not always agree, there is much to learn by listening to and considering viewpoints different from your own. 

2.      Issues and personal experiences discussed in the course may often be personal.  Therefore, we all agree to respect each other’s privacy and to keep discussions confidential.

3.      There is no such thing as a “stupid” or “silly” question.  All questions and ideas will be addressed thoughtfully and respectfully.

4.      The syllabus is subject to change.  Thus, if you choose to be absent from class it is your responsibility to find out if any changes have been made.

5.      Your suggestions and interests are valued.  Therefore, if you have any ideas for videos, readings or specific authors you would like to see included in the class, please discuss them with me during office hours and we will consider adding them to the course materials.

6.      Cheating and plagiarism--including the use of work submitted to another course at Hollins without the consent of both professors, the use of work by another person, or the use of someone else's words, ideas, or arrangement of ideas without giving proper reference to the author--is a severe violation of the Hollins Honor Code. This applies to all electronic sources found on the Internet (including term papers for purchase), to all on-line databases, and to all other published materials. Cheating or plagiarism will result in automatic failure of the course. Thus, please be very careful about your research and citation practices.  If you are ever in doubt, please ask!

7.      If you have any special learning needs, please notify the professor immediately. It is your responsibility to discuss special learning needs with the professor. Every attempt will be made to address your needs accordingly and all discussions will remain confidential.  You should discuss your needs with the professor no later than the second week of class.

8.      If you are having any problems in the course, please come and discuss them with the professor after class, during office hours or by making an appointment. Problems should be addressed right away, and not put off until after exams or until the end of the semester.

Schedule of Classes, Topics and Readings:

Feb 5                          Introduction, personal & group objectives, discuss Class Activism Project and Final Project

                                    Video:  This is What Democracy Looks Like.                             

Feb 12                       Social Movement theory, models, approaches

Read:  Kuumba 1-22, 47-64; Robnett p. 3-35

                                    Strongly Recommended:  Mohanty, Under Western Eyes

Feb 19                       Women’s Personal Stories of Activism

Read: Mertus p. 209-211 (in FF); Svirsky p. 235-245 (in FF); Leachman p. 385-393 (in FF); Williams p. 395-398 (in FF);  Robnett p. 36-52; Trask p. 87-97

Video:  TBA

Feb 26                       Race, Ethnicity and Class

Read: Seitz p. 213-236 (in CA); Pardo p. 275-300 (in CA); Bays p. 301-325 (in CA); Blee p. 1-8, 42-69

Video: What Could You Do with a Nickel?

Ø                  DUE:  Letter to the Editor

Mar 5                          Civil Rights

Read:; Robnett p. 53-139,  157-172, 190-202 (other chapters/sections are optional)           

                                    Video: Fundi: The Story of Ella Baker

Ø                  DUE:  Class Activism Project

            March 7:  International Women’s Day Panel, Hollins University

            March 8:  International Women’s Day Peace March, Washington DC

Mar 12                        Nationalism, War & Peace

Read: Jad p. 226-248; Gould p. 213-233 (in FF); Mladjenovic and Hughes p. 247-274 (in FF); Hale p. 349-370 (in FF).

Video:  TBA

Ø                  DUE:  Reflection Paper #1                                

Mar 19                        Militarism & Violence

Read: Sturdevant p. 141-157 (in FF); Kirk & Okazawa-Rey p. 159- 171 (in FF); Kendrick p. 151-173 (in CA); Keck & Sikkink p. 165-198

                                    Video: Gabriela (clips)

Mar 26                        NO CLASS, SPRING BREAK

    APRIL TBA: Guerrilla Girls, Hollins University

Apr 2                          Feminist Art and Cultural Agency: Womanhouse, the Dinner Party and Guerrilla Girls, Guest Lecturer: Dr. Kim Rhodes

                                    Read: Nochlin p. 1-39; Lippard 115-126; Jones p. 84-118; Schor p. 87-97; Raven p. 48-64.

                                    Suggested: The Guerrilla Girls’ bedside companion to the history of Western Art

                                    Video: Womanhouse

Apr 9                          Women and Religious Movements      

Guest Lecturer: Dr. Darla Schumm

Read:  Starhawk p. 326-335; Welch p. 336-343; Anzaldua p. 77-86.

Video:  Women and Spirituality: Full Circle

Apr 16                        International Women’s Movement  

Guest Lecturer: Dr. Edith Kuiper

Read: Kaplan p. 191-204; Berkovitch p. 255-258; Beijing Declaration p. 259-261; Others TBA

                                    Video: Beyond Beijing: the international women's movement

Ø                  DUE:  Reflection Paper #2

Apr 23                        Presentations

Apr 30                        Presentations

May 7                         Presentations & Wrap Up

List of Additional Readings (in alphabetical order; available on reserve):

Anzaldua, Gloria. 1989. Entering Into Serpent.  In Weaving the Visions: New Patterns in Feminist Spirituality, Judith Plaskow and Carol Christ, eds. Pp. 77-86.  New York: Harper Collins.

Beijing Declaration. 2000. In The Globalization Reader, Frank J. Lechner and John Boli, eds.  Pp. 259-261.  Oxford: Blackwell.

Berkovitch, Nitza. 2000. The Emergence and Transformation of the International Women’s Movement. In The Globalization Reader, Frank J. Lechner and John Boli, eds.  Pp. 255-258.  Oxford: Blackwell.

Blee, Kathleen M. 1991. Women of the Klan: Racism and Gender in the 1920s.  Pp. 1-8 and 42-69. Berkeley: University of California Press.

Guerrilla Girls. 1998. The Guerrilla Girls ‘ bedside companion to the history of Western art. New York: Penguin.

Jad, Islah. 1995. Claiming Feminism, Claiming Nationalism: Women’s Activism in the Occupied Territories. In The Challenge of Local Feminisms: Women’s Movements in Global Perspective. Amrita Basu, ed. Pp. 226-248. Boulder, CO: Westview Press.

Jones, Amelia. 1996. The Sexual Politics of the Dinner Party: A critical context. In Sexual Politics, Amelia Jones, ed. Pp. 84-118.  Berkeley: University of California Press.

Kaplan, Temma. 2001. Women’s Rights as Human Rights: Women as Agents of Social Change. In Women, Gender and Human Rights, Marjorie Agosin, ed.  Pp. 191-204.  New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press.

Keck, Margaret E. and Kathryn Sikkink, eds. 1998. Transnational Networks on Violence against Women. In Activists Beyond Borders: Advocacy Networks in International Politics, Keck & Sikkink, eds. Pp. 165-198.  Ithaca: Cornell University Press.

Lippard, Lucy R. 1980. Judy Chicago’s ‘Dinner Party”. In Art in America, April, pp. 115-126.

Macleod, Arlene Elowe. 1990. Women’s Symbolic Action: The New Veiling in Lower-Middle-Class Cairo.  In Accommodating Protest: Working Women, the New Veiling, and Change in Cairo.  A. Macleod, ed. Pp. 97-124.  New York: Columbia University Press.

Mohanty, Chandra Talpade. 1991. Under Western Eyes: Feminist Scholarship and Colonial Discourses. In Third World Women and the Politics of Feminism. Chandra Talpade Mohanty, Ann Russo and Lourdes Torres, eds. Pp. 51-80.  Bloomington: Indiana University Press. 

Nochlin, Linda. 1973. Why Have There Been No Great Women Artists? In Art and Sexual Politics.  pp. 1-39. New York: Macmillan.

Raven, Arlene. 1994. Womanhouse. In The Power of Feminist Art: The American Movement of the 1970s, History and Impact.  Norma Broude and Mary D. Garrard, eds. Pp. 48-64. New York: Harry N. Abrams Inc., Publishers.

Schor, Mira. 1997. Just the Facts, Ma’am. In Wet.  Pp. 87-97.  Durham: Duke University Press.

Starhawk. 1989. Ritual as Bonding. In Weaving the Visions: New Patterns in Feminist Spirituality, Judith Plaskow and Carol Christ, eds. Pp. 326-335.  New York: Harper Collins.

Trask, Haunani-Kay. 1999. Women’s Mana and Hawaiian Sovereignty. In From a Native Daughter.  Pp. 87-97.  Honolulu: University of Hawai’i Press.

Welch, Sharon. 1989. Ideology and Social Change. In Weaving the Visions: New Patterns in Feminist Spirituality, Judith Plaskow and Carol Christ, eds. Pp. 336-343.  New York: Harper Collins.

Videos:

This is What Democracy Looks Like (2000)

What Could You Do with a Nickel? (1982)

Fundi: The Story of Ella Baker (1986)

Gabriela (1988)

Beyond Beijing: the international women's movement (1996)

Womanhouse (1972)

Women and Spirituality: Full Circle (1993)

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