First-Year Writing Seminar (101-8-20)
Topic
Gender, Politics, and Reproduction
Instructors
Penelope Deutscher
847/491-5293
Kresge 3245
Meeting Info
Kresge 3438 Philosophy Sem. Rm: Mon, Wed 5:00PM - 6:20PM
Overview of class
This writing seminar provides an overview to the role of reproductive politics in historical and contemporary feminist philosophy and theory, with a focus both on rights claims, and activist experiments with paradigms beyond the language of rights. Taking as our starting point the end of the (federal) constitutional right to abortion in the U.S. in 2022, we consider arguments concerning its significance within North American law and politics. We also engage trans-border and further perspectives contributed by an international outlook. The course offers an introduction to a cross-disciplinary area of study: we will encounter arguments from a range of fields such as legal studies, political and media theory, Black studies and decolonial thought, history, philosophical theories of biopower, and activist dimensions. We will consider the development in both national and trans-national contexts of different paradigms including intersectionality, reproductive justice, the politics of collective care, and the plural activisms of Latin America's "green wave" movements.
Learning Objectives
1- Students will develop their skills in critical writing, debate, and presentation of their opinions in reflective and argued form. These skills include: considering objections and factoring alternative points of view.
2-Students will gain a foundational competence in reproductive politics as a sub-field within historical and contemporary feminist philosophy and theory in North American, international, and trans-national contexts. The course is a good entry-point to a range of further courses in related areas within programs and depts such as: gender and sexuality studies, legal studies, philosophy, political theory, sociology, critical geography, Black, and Latin American studies, etc.
Class Materials (Required)
All class materials will be available on Canvas at NO cost to the student.
In addition to arguments, reflection and commentary on this topic within philosophy and cross-disciplinary critical theory, gender and sexualities studies, there will also be a component of interpretive work with a further range of documents including: legal judgments, public statements by politicians, newspaper editorials, political blogs and similar media, podcast commentary, and film.
Class Materials (Suggested)
Class materials to be supplied on Canvas.
Class Notes
No final assessment.
Class Attributes
WCAS Writing Seminar
Enrollment Requirements
Enrollment Requirements: Weinberg First Year Seminars are only available to first-year students.