Overview
WGST 421: Advocacy from the Margins introduces you to the meaning, history, tools, group processes, and strategies associated with advocacy for women and other marginalized groups who face injustice around the world. The course stresses the importance of advocacy group processes as well as advocacy strategies and tools. It also encourages you to begin advocating with those who are on the margins and faced with injustice.
Outline
Part I: Foundations of Feminist Advocacy
- Unit 1: What Is Advocacy from the Margins?
- Unit 2: Foundations of Advocacy from the Margins
- Unit 3: Advocacy Processes
Part II: Advocacy Issues and Strategies
- Unit 4: Advocacy for Reproductive Freedom, Health, and Safety
- Unit 5: Advocacy for Egalitarian Politics and Reform of the State
- Unit 6: Advocacy for Economic Equality
- Unit 7: Advocacy for Families: Childbirth, Mothering, and Childcare
- Unit 8: Transnational Advocacy in a Threatened Climate
Part III: The Tools of Advocacy
- Unit 9: Traditional Tools for Advocacy
- Unit 10: Advocacy Through the Internet and Other Electronic Media
- Unit 11: Advocacy Through Music and Other Cultural Forms
Part IV: Looking Ahead
- Unit 12: Advocacy and the Future
Evaluation
To receive credit for WGST 421, you must complete four assignments and achieve a minimum grade of "D" (50%) or better on each assignment. The weighting for each assignment are as follows:
| Activity | Weight |
| Assignment 1: Three Short Essays | 15% |
| Assignment 2: Critique of an Advocacy Strategy | 30% |
| Assignment 3: Plan for Advocacy | 35% |
| Assignment 4: Begin to Advocate | 20% |
| Total | 100% |
To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University’s online Calendar.
Materials
Physical course materials
The following course materials are included in a course package that will be shipped to your home prior to your course’s start date:
Agnew, V. et al. (Eds.). (2006). Canadian feminism in action (Special issue). Canadian Woman Studies 25(3/4).
Chinn, P. L. (2013). Peace and power: New directions for building community (8th ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Rebick, J. (2005). Ten thousand roses: The making of a feminist revolution. Toronto: Penguin Canada Books.
Other Material
All other course materials are available online.