Contemporary Feminisms Issues

Year
0
Academic year
2019-2020
Code
01011619
Subject Area
Área Científica do Menor
Language of Instruction
Portuguese
Mode of Delivery
Face-to-face
Duration
SEMESTRIAL
ECTS Credits
6.0
Type
Elective
Level
1st Cycle Studies

Recommended Prerequisites

Not applicable.

Teaching Methods

An historical survey and the presentation of the key theoretical ideas will occupy the first few classes. Once a calendar for the semester is established with the students, each will make an individual presentation in class of a chosen theme, sustained by empirical data and theoretical concepts, a research supervised by the teacher. Students are expected to be able to present their arguments in a clear and sustained manner, as well as to debate them with the group. Debate allows for more consistent knowledge.

Learning Outcomes

Students should acquire knowledge about past feminist movements and present feminist issues and theory. The concept of Alterity and the concomitant subalternity of women in the past and the present direct both the research and the debate. The analysis of social and cultural practices, using contemporary material, should create the awareness of the social construction of representations and practices which common sense tends to accept as natural, and which express a social and symbolic hierarchy between men and women. The course aims at creating the ability to think critically about identities and citizenship, within the conceptual framework of an education towards ethical citizenship – an ethical imperative of university education. The ability for independent research work as well as the ability to present and argue individual stand-points in dialogue with the group is another capability students should attain.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

In the first decades of the XXI century both Feminist Studies and Feminist Movements are back in strength while women’s equality issues are in governmental agendas; yet, paradoxically, prejudices and stereotypes still thrive. Even among the educated classes “feminism” is still misunderstood. Thus, the course will start with a discussion of the very concepts of “feminine” and “masculine”, followed by a survey of the historical feminist movements before getting into the discussion of contemporary issues.

Feminisms are plural; thus an approach to different theories and positions will be made. Feminisms are interdisciplinary; thus materials - art, news pieces, literary texts and others – and methodologies from different disciplinary fields will be used.

Key concepts: alterity; citizenship; sexual difference; the body; stereotype; history/herstory; gaze; patriarchy; rewriting; violence; voice.

Head Lecturer(s)

Adriana Conceição Silva Pereira Bebiano Nascimento

Assessment Methods

Final evaluation
Exam: 100.0%

Continuous evaluation
Other: 25.0%
Mini Tests: 25.0%
Frequency: 50.0%

Bibliography

Amaral, Ana Luísa & Macedo, Ana Gabriela (2005). Dicionário de Crítica Feminista. Porto: Afrontamento.

Bebiano, Adriana & Ramalho, Maria Irene (2010). Revista Crítica de Ciências Sociais. Nº 89: “Estudos Feministas e cidadania plena”. Coimbra: Centro de Estudos Sociais.

Borges, Anselmo & Caldeira, Isabel (Orgs.) (2011). E Deus criou a Mulher. Mulheres e Teologia. Funchal: Nova Delphi.

Tavares, Manuela (2011). Feminismos: percursos e desafios (1947-2007). Lisboa: Texto.

Vicente, Ana (2009). “Antifeminismos”. In Marujo, António e Franco, José Eduardo (org.). Danças dos Demónios. Intolerância em Portugal. Lisboa: Círculo de Leitores.

Vicente, Filipa (2012). A arte sem história. Lisboa: Athena.