At the turn of the 20th century, American journalist Rebecca West wrote in The Clarion, “I myself have never been able to find out exactly what feminism is. I only know that people call me a feminist whenever I express sentiments that differentiate me from a doormat.” Over a hundred years later, feminism still evokes a range of reactions, including suspicion and outward hostility.
WGST 266: Thinking from Women's Lives—An Introduction to Women's Studies sets out to demonstrate the value and relevance of feminist thinking and activism in Canada today. It provides an overview of the history of feminism as well as a critical examination of the ways in which different groups of women experience marginalization and oppression in the Canadian context. The intersection of gender with race, class, and sexuality is highlighted throughout the course.
Outline
Unit 1: Riding the Waves: A History and Overview of Feminist Thinking and Activism
Unit 2: Theorizing Women’s Lives
Unit 3: Feminism, Diversity, and Difference
Unit 4: Bodies and Representations
Unit 5: Violence Against Women
Unit 6: A Woman’s Work Is Never Done
Unit 7: Wellness and Health
Unit 8: Feminism Across Borders
Evaluation
To receive credit for WGST 266, you must complete four assignments, and achieve a course composite grade of at least D (50 percent). The weighting of the composite grade is as follows:
Activity
Weight
Assignment 1 (Oral Review)
20%
Assignment 2 (Research Essay Plan)
15%
Assignment 3 (Research Essay)
25%
Assignment 4 (Three Short Essays)
40%
Total
100%
To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University’s online Calendar.
Note: All written assignments are open book.
Materials
Mandell, N. & Johnson, J. (Eds.) (2017). Feminist issues: Race, class, and sexuality (6th ed.). Toronto: Pearson Canada Inc. (eText)
Cranney, B. & Molloy, S. (Eds.). (2015). Canadian woman studies: An introductory reader (3rd ed.). Toronto: Inanna Publications & Education Inc. (Print)
All other materials, including the Study Guide, are accessed online through the course website.
Challenge for credit
Overview
The challenge for credit process allows you to demonstrate that you have acquired a command of the general subject matter, knowledge, intellectual and/or other skills that would normally be found in a university-level course.
Full information about challenge for credit can be found in the Undergraduate Calendar.
Evaluation
To receive credit for the WGST 266 challenge registration, you must complete all the essay questions and achieve a composite grade of D (50 percent) or higher on the challenge assignment. Credit will be awarded as either a pass or a fail.
Athabasca University reserves the right to amend course outlines occasionally and without notice. Courses offered by other delivery methods may vary from their individualized study counterparts.