Overview
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.
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
Digital course materials
Links to the following course materials will be made available in the course:
Mandell, N. & Johnson, J. (Eds.) (2017). Feminist issues: Race, class, and sexuality (6th ed.). Toronto: Pearson Canada Inc.
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:
Cranney, B. & Molloy, S. (Eds.). (2015). Canadian woman studies: An introductory reader (3rd ed.). Toronto: Inanna Publications & Education Inc.
Other Materials
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.
Challenge for credit course registration form