SC 509 FEMINIST APPROACHES TO THEORY AND METHODOLOGY

Course Description

This course is organized around key issues at the intersection of feminism and methodology. We examine a range of feminist, social science and philosophy of science literature which is concerned with issues of theory and methodology and the connection between the two. We address the following: (1) What are the basic assumptions concerning the scientific method in the existing science and social science literature? (2) Is there a feminist method? A feminist methodology? A feminist epistemology? (3) To what degree is science a "cultural institution" influenced by economic, social and political values? (4) To what extent is science affected by sexist attitudes and to what extent does it reinforce them? We examine several research studies and methods which employ a "feminist methodology."

Required Readings

Harding, Sandra. (Ed.). (l987). Feminism & Methodology. Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press.

Gluck, Sherna Berger & Patai, Daphne. (Eds.). (l991). Women’s Words: The Feminist Practice of Oral History. New York: Routledge.

Hesse-Biber, Sharlene, Gilmartin Christina & Robin Lydenberg (Eds.). (1999). Feminist Approaches to Theory and Methodology: An Interdisciplinary Reader. New York: Oxford University Press.

Packet of Required Readings. Available for purchase from Jessica Bickley in McGuinn 417.

DESCRIPTION OF COURSE REQUIREMENTS

1. Midterm (25%)

The Midterm will be passed out on February 28 and will be due on March 20. The Midterm will consist of one or two essay questions. Further details will be discussed in class.

2. Oral History Project (30%)

In this assignment you will conduct an oral history interview, tape it, transcribe it, analyze it, and write a paper discussing your analysis and the major issues in the process of interviewing and analyzing. Describe how you analyzed the interview and the "validity" of the interview findings. Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of oral tradition as a feminist method. Not only will you gain hands-on experience in interviewing, transcribing, and analyzing, you will also have the opportunity to gain experience with HyperRESEARCH, a software program for analyzing qualitative data. More details of this project will be discussed in class. This project will be due the last day of class.

3. Reading Journal and Three 2-4 Page Papers (30%)

A) Reading Journal

You are required to keep a journal which will record your reflections on the readings - the ideas presented by specific authors, the ways that you have integrated the readings in your thinking, the ways in which your personal experiences relate to the issues raised in the readings. You are required to make at least one journal entry BEFORE each class (in other words at least one a week). You are only required to make one entry a week, but the more entries the better. The more you consider the connections and contradictions between the readings throughout the semester, the better your journal will be. This journal will also be very helpful in completing the three required papers and the midterm.

Here are the requirements for each journal entry:

Summarize the reading.
Restate the author’s main argument in one or two sentences only. NO QUOTES. The restatement must be in YOUR OWN WORDS.
Respond to the reading.
Things that could be addressed in this section: Do you agree or disagree? Why? How does the reading connect to (or not connect to) your own experience? How can it be applied to situations of everyday life?
Create a discussion question.

Other ideas for journal entries:
Use concepts and terminology from the readings
After we have discussed the material in class, go back and reflect on your entry addressing material from lectures, films, presentations, etc.
Be creative in your entries, especially in your response - poems, stories, songs, etc. are great.

B) Three 2-4 Page Papers
At three specified times during the semester, each student will turn in a 2-4 page paper that examines some of the key issues in the area of feminism and methodology that have been covered in the readings. The essays should incorporate AT LEAST FOUR of the readings. Students are encouraged to use and further develop ideas discussed in the journal, but they are not required to do so. Essays will be judged on evidence of analytical thinking and writing about a given issue or set of readings, evidence of careful and thoughtful reading, and clearness of writing.

4. Class Participation/Discussion Leader (15%)

In addition to actively participating in each class, each student will be responsible for leading the discussion of a specific required reading(s). In addition to leading the discussion, the discussion leader should also prepare a list of questions to be distributed to the class as well as a list of additional related readings.

Students will also be required to make regular postings to the newsgroup. Further details and instructions will be discussed in class.