What is Women’s Studies?

“Women’s Studies is the examination of women’s experiences that recognizes our achievements and addresses our status in society.”

What is Women’s Studies? Outgrowth of the Second Wave of

Feminism– Academic component of feminist activism– Begins in 1970s- 2 programs– 1996- 620 programs

Centers the history,culture, and lives of women– Footnote to center– Focuses on traditionally silenced histories/lives

• Gender, sexuality, class, ethnicity

Interdisciplinary– Biology, anthropology, english, history, law

What is Women’s Studies? Critical and Feminist

– Focuses on power, oppression, domination– Not neutral– Questions status quo

Connects theory and practice– Creates Knowledge and Social change

Personal– Connects the study of women and gender,

class, ethnicity, sexuality to our lives

Key Terms

Sex– Either of two divisions of organisms

distinguished respectively as male or female

Gender – the cultural definition of behavior defined

as appropriate to the sexes in a given society at a given time

Key Terms Patriarchy

– Social organization marked by the supremacy of the father in the clan or family and the legal dependence of wives and children (dictionary)

– The manifestation and institutionalization of male dominance over women and children in the family and the extension into society in general (Gerda Lerner)

Key Terms Feminism

– “The belief that women and men are inherently of equal worth. Because most societies privilege men as a group, social movements are necessary to achieve equality between men and women, with an understanding that gender always intersects with other social hierarchies.” Estelle Friedman

– “I think the alternative to being a feminist is, in some sense, being a masochist. Either we’re whole human beings or we’re not.” Gloria Steinem

Key Terms

Feminist

“A feminist is not just someone who envisions a different world but someone who creates a life that will change it”

Darice Jones

Key Terms

Womanist

– A black feminist or feminist of color

– From the black folk expression of mothers to female children, “You acting womanish”, I.e. like a woman. Referring to outrageous, audacious, courageous or willful behavior