Welcome
I myself have
never been able to find out precisely what feminism is.
I only know that people call me a feminist whenever I
express sentiments that differentiate me from a
doormat....”
—Rebecca
West, 1913
Overview
The WOST 201
course description from the Monmouth College
2004-2005 Catalog reads as follows: “An introduction
to Western feminist thought and the study of women’s
roles and status in society. This course also evaluates
present knowledge about women, questions stereotypes,
and reinforces the value and content of women’s everyday
lives” (127). In a nutshell, women’s studies encourages
an increased awareness of the issues and experiences
that shape women’s lives. Historically, women’s
experiences have often been overlooked; women’s studies
is one way that oversight has begun to be rectified.
Hopefully, this course will help you to understand women
and their potential more fully, and as a result, your
relationships with women and your sense of
self—regardless of sex or gender—will deepen and
mature. Through its exploration of gender construction
and roles, women’s studies has also expanded our
understanding of masculinity, although that is not
directly the focus of this course.
Goals and
Objectives of Introduction to Women's Studies
•
examine issues and experiences that shape women’s
lives and senses of self
•
consider the effects of bias, stereotypes, and
cultural myths and expectations on women’s
experiences and concepts of self and other
•
consider the construction of gender in adolescents
and some consequences of gender throughout women’s
life spans
•
analyze cultural messages about women and gender
portrayed in print, on television, and in film
•
study and explore patterns of gender oppression and
strategies for resistance
•
develop tools for making conscious choices about
issues that appear predetermined or fixed—such as
gender roles and traits (i.e., have strategies for
not “acting like a lady” or “toughing up and
taking it like a man” if you don’t want to).
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