GOVT392 - Gender in Political Thought

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Academic Year 2004/2005

Gender in Political Thought
GOVT 392 SP

What is the relation of gender to politics? Is politics a sphere of power, authority and action that inevitably privileges certain men? Or is it the sphere of freedom? Feminist theory questions women's relative exclusion from politics, and recently has problematized the concept of gender. Is participation in politics predicated on certain gender identities? Do different experiences of gender lead to different conceptions of justice? We will read classical and contemporary theorists on the embodiment of desire, on the emotions, and public reason; on conflict, coalitions and leadership in forming justice.

MAJOR READINGS

Crick, IN DEFENSE OF POLITICS
J.S. Mill, THE SUBJECTION OF WOMEN
Beauvoir, THE SECOND SEX
Dinerstein, MERMAID AND MINOTAUR
Butler, GENDER TROUBLE
Plato, SYMPOSIUM, REPUBLIC (parts)
Machiavelli, PRINCE, DISCOURSES (parts)
Squires, GENDER IN POLITICAL THEORY

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Class presentation and short paper; midterm paper (5-7 pp.); term paper (10-15 pp.)

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS

Some background in social and political theory -- from GOVT, PHIL., CSS, COL, HIST., RELI., or SOC. -- is helpful.

COURSE FORMAT: Seminar

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Level: UGRD Credit: 1 Gen Ed Area Dept: SBS GOVT Grading Mode: Graded

Prerequisites: NONE

SECTION 01

Instructor(s): Schwartz,Nancy L.

Times: .M..... 01:10PM-04:00PM; Location: PAC104;

Reserved Seats: (Total Limit: 20)

SR. major: 5 Jr. major: 5

SR. non-major: 4 Jr. non-major: 4 SO: 2 FR: X

Special Attributes:

Curricular Renewal: Ethical Reasoning

Links to Web Resources For This Course.

Last Updated on MAR-21-2005