Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2018 - GSWS 317 E100

Bread Riots to Riot Grrls: Gender, Resistance and Protest in Historical Perspective (4)

Class Number: 4298

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 4 – Dec 3, 2018: Wed, 5:30–9:20 p.m.
    Vancouver

  • Exam Times + Location:

    Dec 12, 2018
    Wed, 7:00–10:00 p.m.
    Vancouver

  • Prerequisites:

    15 units.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

An examination of social protest from a historical perspective. Analyzes the relationships between race, class, gender, sexuality and religion within the formation of social movements. Focuses mainly on the North American context. Students with credit for GSWS 301 (or WS 301) with the same title may not take this course for further credit.

COURSE DETAILS:

This course examines women and activism in both the historical and contemporary context.  We will look closely at examples of women’s resistance and learn about specific women challenging injustice including nuns who lived in the 12th century and the four founders of the contemporary Indigenous rights movement, Idle No More.  We will pay particular attention to the intersections of gender, race, and class while looking at the rise and execution of key social justice movements.  We will look at the complicated history of reproductive rights as well as forced sterilization as well as women who have participated in pro-choice and pro-life activism.

Goals: - to develop both a broad and some specific understanding of social justice movements - to critically engage with women’s resistance with an intersectional lens - to communicate effectively about the aims and goals of various movements - to explain and understand the historical or contemporary context in which social movements rise and respond

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

For more detailed information please see the GSWS website: http://www.sfu.ca/gsws/courses/Educational_Goals.html

Grading

  • Attendance and Participation: 10%
  • Group Presentation 15%
  • Mid-term Exam 15%
  • Essay Proposal 10%
  • Final Essay 25%
  • Final Exam 25%

NOTES:

List of Topics Covered/Lecture Schedule
Week 1: Introduction to the Course  
Week 2: Themes in Women’s Activism and Resistance  
Week 3: Religion and Women’s Organizing  
Week 4: Gender, Class, and Resistance  
Week 5: Abolitionism  
Week 6: Suffrage and the First Wave of Feminism  
Week 7: Mid-term  
Week 8: Women and Pacifism  
Week 9: Women’s politicized bodies  
Week 10: Third Wave Feminism  
Week 11: Gender and the Alt-Right  
Week 12: Contemporary Activism  
Week 13: Sex Worker Rights

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Available On-Line

Registrar Notes:

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://students.sfu.ca/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS