Feminism, Gender and Philosophy

Description

This course will introduce students to some major strands of feminist philosophy. We will discuss different ways in which philosophers have contributed to feminist discourse and discuss some of the challenges this has posed for contemporary philosophy. Readings will explore major feminist positions on the nature and scope of oppression and marginalization, their systemic perpetuations, and possible solutions. Issues of gender and sexism are considered powerful examples of issues of diversity and ideological bias in philosophy more generally, which also include racism, imperialism, class exploitation, and ageism amongst others. At the end of the course, students should be able to: - explain key concepts and central features of feminist philosophy and gender theory; - critically discuss those concepts and features; - identify various ways in which feminism and gender pose challenges to contemporary philosophy; - interpret main questions and aims of feminist concerns and gender issues within the wider context of philosophy and in relation to other categories of systematic oppression and marginalization, such as, for example, racism and class exploitation; - apply key concepts and questions of feminist philosophy and gender theory to concrete issues in academic and public debate; - assess the extent and scope of some major merits as well as limitations of feminism and gender in philosophy.