Feminism and Environmental Movements
Section outline
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This course introduces students to the intersection of feminism and the environmental movement. Together we explore why feminism grounds itself in a deep concern for the environment as well as the link between feminist theory and the current environmental crisis. We survey the background and history of the movement as well as its contemporary diversity. In addition, this course investigates the origins of the current environmental crisis in Western science, philosophy and religion and devotes considerable time to the following topics in ecofeminist thought: politics, responsible citizenship, economics, materialism, ethics, animals, vegetarianism and religion. While examining various feminist critiques of this situation, we concentrate mostly on feminist solutions to the crisis.
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General news and announcements. Be sure to check back often for any changes to the course.
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Here you will find all of the assigned reading material for the course. Course literature can also be found under the course title in the SIS system.
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5 October 2020
Hand-Out syllabus and introduction to material
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12 October 2020
Reading: Mellor, Feminism and Ecology. Chapters 1-2
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19 October 2020
Reading: Mellor, Feminism and Ecology. Chapters 3-4
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26 October 2020
Readings:
Catriona Sandilands, “A Genealogy of Ecofeminism,” in The Good-Natured Feminist, University of Minnesota Press, 1999.
- Read pages 3-15.
Ivy Helman, “The Importance of Religion for Ecofeminism.”
Rosemary Radford Ruether, “Dualism and the Nature of Evil in Feminist Theology.”
Review Reading:
Mellor, Feminism and Ecology, pages 52-55
Recommended Reading:
Catriona Sandilands, “A Genealogy of Ecofeminism,” in The Good-Natured Feminist, University of Minnesota Press, 1999.
- Read pages 16-27.
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2 November 2020
Reading: Mellor, Feminism and Ecology. Chapters 5-6
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9 November 2020
Reading:
Richard T. Twine, “Ma(r)king Essence-Ecofeminism and Embodiment,” Ethics and the Environment, vol. 6, no. 2 (Autumn, 2001), pp. 31-58.
Review Reading:
Mellor, Feminism and Ecology, pages TBA
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The grading scale for this assignment is as follows:
1 - 100-85
2 - 84-70
3 - 69-55
4 - 54 and under.
1, 2, and 3 are passing grades; 4 is not. If I have included a note in the comments section of your paper to please meet with me, please email me to schedule a meeting.
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16 November 2020
Readings:
Linda Vance, “Ecofeminism and Wilderness,” NWSA Journal, Vol. 9, No. 3, Women, Ecology, and the Environment (Autumn, 1997), pages 60-76.
Richard Twine, “Masculinity, Nature, Eco-Feminism,” from www.ecofem.org/journal
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23 November 2020
Readings:
A.E. Kings, “Intersectionality and the Changing Face of Ecofeminism,” Ethics & the Environment 22, no. 1 (2017), pages 63–87.
Greta Gaard. “Toward a Queer Ecofeminism,” Hypatia, vol. 12, no. 1 (Winter 1997), pages 114-137.
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30 November 2020
Reading:
Stephanie Lahar, “Ecofeminist Theory and Grassroots Politics,” Hypatia, vol. 6, no. 1, Ecological Feminism (Spring, 1991), pages 28-45.
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The grading scale for this assignment is as follows:
1 - 100-85
2 - 84-70
3 - 69-55
4 - 54 and under.
1, 2, and 3 are passing grades; 4 is not.
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7 December 2020
Reading:
Chris Crittenden “Ecofeminism Meets Business: A Comparison of Ecofeminist, Corporate, and Free Market Ideologies,” Journal of Business Ethics, vol. 24, no. 1 (Mar., 2000), pages 51-63.
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14 December 2020
Readings:
Carol J. Adams “Ecofeminism and the Eating of Animals,” Hypatia, vol. 6, no. 1, Ecological Feminism (Spring, 1991), pages 125-145.
Kathy Rudy, “Locavores, Feminism and the Question of Meat,” The Journal of American Culture Volume 35, Number 1 (March 2012), pages 26 - 36.
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Class TDB
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The scale is as follows:
**** - Excellent, pass
*** - Good, pass
** - Acceptable, pass
* - Unacceptable, fail.
The student is expected to come to every class fully prepared. This includes having read the assigned material and bring copies of it to class. The student must stay engaged (and awake) in discussion, during occasional lectures, in-class videos and break-outs groups (when applicable). Note-taking is expected.
I take class attendance very seriously. Class is not only an opportunity to learn new things, but also: an opportunity to learn more about yourself and your classmates, an occasion for the professor to provide some clarification and insight, an experience in which you can improve your ability to express your views and the knowledge you have and the chance to learn from your peers, who may have thought about the same information in a slightly different manner than yourself.
All absences do affect the student’s participation grade as one cannot participate if one is not in class. However, at the end of the semester, if the student has more than 3 absences, their final grade will be lowered an additional one number.
***Note for if classes go online: If Charles University decides to cancel in-person classes, then we will continue the semester through ZOOM. We will continue to meet at the scheduled class time online. We will meet for 40 minutes, then take a 10 minute break and then again for 40 minutes. Students are required to attend both 40 minute sessions each week. Each week, the student will receive an email from the Professor with a link to the ZOOM meeting as well as a weekly handout to prepare for the class. When logging onto a ZOOM session, the student must use their full name as it is displayed in the Charles University SIS system. Internet issues will be dealt with on an individual basis.