Feminist Political Thought

Unit 1 – Intro to Feminist Political Thought

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

Unit 3 – First-Wave Feminism: Suffrage Movement

Unit 4 – Second-Wave Feminism: Beauvoir and Friedan

Unit 5 – Radical Feminism: Millett and Firestone

Unit 6 – Socialist and Marxist Feminist Theory

Unit 7 – Black Feminism: Combahee Collective & bell hooks

Unit 8 – Postmodern Feminism: Butler on Gender

Unit 9 – Transnational & Postcolonial Feminism

Unit 10 – Intersectionality: Crenshaw & Collins

Unit 11 – Feminist Critiques of Political Ideologies

Unit 12 – Feminist Views on Reproductive Rights

Unit 13 – Gender in Global Politics & IR

Unit 14 – Feminist Activism and Social Movements

Unit 15 – Future Directions in Feminist Politics

## 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](https://fiveable.me/cram-mode) 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.

## Majors related to Feminist Political Thought

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.

Political Science

1.1 Defining feminism and feminist political thought

1.2 Historical context and evolution of feminist theory

1.4 Overview of major feminist waves and movements

1.3 Key concepts and terminology in feminist political discourse

2.1 Mary Wollstonecraft's "A Vindication of the Rights of Woman"

2.4 Impact of early feminist thinkers on political philosophy

2.2 John Stuart Mill's "The Subjection of Women"

2.3 Harriet Taylor Mill's contributions to feminist thought

3.2 Key figures and organizations in the fight for women's voting rights

3.3 Strategies and tactics of suffragists

3.4 Achievements and limitations of first-wave feminism

3.1 Origins and goals of the suffrage movement

4.1 Simone de Beauvoir's "The Second Sex" and existentialist feminism

4.3 The personal as political: consciousness-raising and activism

4.2 Betty Friedan's "The Feminine Mystique" and liberal feminism

4.4 Critiques and controversies within second-wave feminism

5.3 Radical feminist critiques of family, sexuality, and gender roles

5.4 Influence of radical feminism on political thought and activism

5.1 Kate Millett's "Sexual Politics" and the concept of patriarchy

5.2 Shulamith Firestone's "The Dialectic of Sex" and reproductive technology

6.2 Marxist feminist critiques of capitalism and patriarchy

6.3 Key thinkers in socialist feminism (e.g., Clara Zetkin, Alexandra Kollontai)

6.4 Intersections of class, gender, and labor in feminist political economy

6.1 Foundations of socialist feminist thought

7.4 Black feminist perspectives on political organizing and social justice

7.2 bell hooks' contributions to feminist theory and intersectionality

7.3 Critiques of white feminism and the importance of race in feminist discourse

7.1 The Combahee River Collective Statement and identity politics

8.1 Judith Butler's theory of gender performativity

8.2 Postmodern critiques of essentialism and fixed identities

8.3 Queer theory and its influence on feminist political thought

8.4 Debates surrounding postmodern feminism and its practical implications

9.1 Foundations of transnational and global feminisms

9.2 Postcolonial feminist critiques of Western feminism

9.3 Key thinkers in postcolonial feminism (e.g., Chandra Mohanty, Gayatri Spivak)

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