Admission requirements
None, but History of Philosophy and/or Introduction to Gender Studies are recommended.
Description
This course is an introduction to contemporary feminist theory from a philosophical perspective. It aims to get students acquainted with the main contributions of feminist scholarship to ethics and political philosophy. We will begin by exploring what feminism is and how it relates to certain key concepts (such as gender, patriarchy, equality, discrimination, and oppression). We will learn about varieties of feminist thought across different political traditions and relate these to contemporary debates concerning identity, race, care, economic, political and social inequality. Classical texts are read and extensively discussed in class so that students can critically assess, analyze and discuss various perspectives and paradigms in feminist philosophy. The class is reading-extensive, and students are expected to contribute to discussions both in-class and in the weekly Brightspace discussions.
Course Objectives
Discuss in-depth and critically read feminist philosophy
Formulate an argument on feminist philosophy
Compare, critique and place different feminist theories in their historical and normative context
Critically understand, discuss and assess texts and being able to use them for fruitful and conscientious discussion.
Timetable
Timetables for courses offered at Leiden University College in 2025-2026 will be published on this page of the e-Prospectus.
Mode of instruction
Combined lecture/tutorial classes. Please bring a copy of the texts to the class.
The first hour of the class will be an (informal) lecture, and the second half will be devoted to an in-depth discussion, mostly related to the key text.
Every week the student is asked to submit a reading response of 200 words to Brightspace.
Assessment Method
Presence and Participation (10%) (ongoing)
Midterm assignment: 1000 word paper on a topic provided by the teacher (45%) (Week 4)
A 2500 word-essay on a topic of the student’s choice (related to the course) (45%) (Week 8)
Reading list
Simone De Beauvoir. The Second Sex: Introduction and Chapter VI Book II: “Women, Situation, Character”
Helene Cixous. “The Laugh of the Medusa”
Luce Irigaray. “How Could we Achieve Women’s Liberation?”
Nancy Fraser. “What’s Critical about Critical Theory?”
bell hooks. Ain’t I a Woman? Chapter 5 “Black Women and Feminism.
Kristie Dotson. “Introducing Black Feminist Philosophy” In: The Routledge Companion to Feminist Theory
Michel Foucault. “Sexual choice, sexual act” in: Ethics, Subjectivity and Truth. And: *The History of Sexuality, Vol 1: The Will to Knowledge, Chapter 2 (method) and Chapter 3 (domain)
Judith Butler. Gender Trouble. Chapter 1. “Subjects of Sex, Gender, Desire”
Sara Ahmed. Living a Feminist Life. Chapters: “a Killjoy Survival Kit” and“The Killjoy manifesto.”
Registration
Courses offered at Leiden University College (LUC) are usually only open to LUC students and LUC exchange students. Leiden University students who participate in one of the university’s Honours tracks or programmes may register for one LUC course, if availability permits. Registration is coordinated by the Education Coordinator, course.administration@luc.leidenuniv.nl.
Contact
Aoife Mc Inerney, a.mc.inerney@phil.leidenuniv.nl
Remarks
A few additional text may be added to the reading list. What is listed above will definitely feature in the course.