♀️Feminist Political Thought

Unit 1 – Intro to Feminist Political Thought

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Unit 2 – Early Feminist Thinkers: 18th-19th Century

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Unit 3 – First-Wave Feminism: Suffrage Movement

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Unit 4 – Second-Wave Feminism: Beauvoir and Friedan

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Unit 5 – Radical Feminism: Millett and Firestone

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Unit 6 – Socialist and Marxist Feminist Theory

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Unit 7 – Black Feminism: Combahee Collective & bell hooks

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Unit 8 – Postmodern Feminism: Butler on Gender

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Unit 9 – Transnational & Postcolonial Feminism

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Unit 10 – Intersectionality: Crenshaw & Collins

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Unit 11 – Feminist Critiques of Political Ideologies

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Unit 12 – Feminist Views on Reproductive Rights

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Unit 13 – Gender in Global Politics & IR

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Unit 14 – Feminist Activism and Social Movements

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Unit 15 – Future Directions in Feminist Politics

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What do you learn in Feminist Political Thought

Feminist Political Thought explores the intersection of feminism and political theory. You'll analyze key feminist thinkers, from Mary Wollstonecraft to Judith Butler, and examine how gender shapes political structures and power dynamics. The course covers topics like women's suffrage, reproductive rights, intersectionality, and the evolution of feminist movements across different historical periods.

Is Feminist Political Thought hard?

It's not a walk in the park, but it's definitely manageable. The reading load can be heavy, with lots of dense theoretical texts to wade through. The concepts can get pretty abstract, so you'll need to put on your critical thinking cap. But if you're interested in the subject, you'll find it engaging and thought-provoking rather than overwhelmingly difficult.

Tips for taking Feminist Political Thought in college

  1. Use Fiveable Study Guides to help you cram 🌶️
  2. Stay on top of the readings - they pile up fast
  3. Engage in class discussions - it helps solidify concepts like intersectionality
  4. Create timelines to track the evolution of feminist movements
  5. Watch documentaries like "She's Beautiful When She's Angry" for historical context
  6. Read contemporary feminist blogs to see how theories apply to current issues
  7. Form study groups to debate and discuss complex ideas like Judith Butler's gender performativity

Common pre-requisites for Feminist Political Thought

  1. Introduction to Political Theory: This course covers foundational concepts in political philosophy. You'll explore ideas from ancient to modern thinkers that shape our understanding of politics and society.

  2. Gender and Politics: This class examines how gender influences political behavior, institutions, and policies. It provides a solid foundation for understanding the gendered nature of political systems.

Classes similar to Feminist Political Thought

  1. Queer Theory: Explores the intersections of gender, sexuality, and politics. You'll dive into works by theorists like Judith Butler and Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick.

  2. Critical Race Theory: Examines how race and law intersect in society. It'll get you thinking about how different forms of oppression connect.

  3. Postcolonial Feminism: Focuses on feminist thought from non-Western perspectives. You'll learn about thinkers like Chandra Talpade Mohanty and Gayatri Spivak.

  4. Gender and International Relations: Looks at how gender shapes global politics. It covers topics like gender in war, development, and human rights.

  1. Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies: Focuses on interdisciplinary approaches to understanding gender and sexuality in society. Students explore topics like feminist theory, queer studies, and intersectionality.

  2. Political Science: Examines political systems, behavior, and theory. Students analyze government structures, political ideologies, and policy-making processes.

  3. Sociology: Studies human society and social behavior. Students learn about social structures, institutions, and how factors like gender, race, and class shape social experiences.

  4. Philosophy: Explores fundamental questions about existence, knowledge, values, and reason. Students engage with various schools of thought and develop critical thinking skills.

What can you do with a degree in Feminist Political Thought?

  1. Policy Analyst: Researches and analyzes public policies, often focusing on issues related to gender equality. They may work for government agencies, think tanks, or non-profit organizations.

  2. Human Rights Advocate: Works to promote and protect human rights, often with a focus on women's rights or LGBTQ+ rights. They might work for international organizations, NGOs, or legal advocacy groups.

  3. Gender Equality Consultant: Advises organizations on how to implement gender-inclusive policies and practices. They might work with businesses, educational institutions, or government agencies to promote diversity and equality.

  4. Political Campaign Strategist: Develops strategies for political campaigns, often with a focus on engaging women voters or addressing gender-related issues. They might work for political parties, individual candidates, or advocacy groups.

Feminist Political Thought FAQs

  1. How does feminist political thought relate to other critical theories? Feminist political thought often intersects with other critical theories like critical race theory and queer theory. It's all about understanding how different forms of oppression and power structures interact.

  2. Are there different schools of feminist political thought? Yes, there are various approaches within feminist political thought, including liberal feminism, radical feminism, socialist feminism, and postmodern feminism. Each has its own take on gender issues and political solutions.

  3. How has feminist political thought evolved over time? Feminist political thought has shifted from focusing primarily on women's suffrage to addressing a broader range of issues. Modern feminist theory often emphasizes intersectionality and considers how gender intersects with other identities like race, class, and sexuality.



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© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.