POL 370 FEMINISM IN COALITION: CONTEMPORARY THEORIES OF FEMINIST ACTIVISM

This seminar examines a number of important concepts in contemporary feminist political theory. In particular, we will focus on the theme of coalition politics, examining the theories on which feminist coalitional activism have been built, the notions of political subjectivity and consciousness that are necessary for successful coalescing, the possibilities and challenges of feminist coalition politics across race, class, sexuality, gender, and other divides, and the way in which feminist commitments to coalitional activism have shaped approaches to feminist scholarship. Additionally, students will take part in a coalitional conversation about social justice and feminist activism, in which they will put into practice the coalitional theories introduced to them across the semester. This exercise will enable students to “workshop” cutting edge ideas coming out of contemporary feminist theory on educating for coalition and building coalitional consciousness, and to attempt to integrate disciplinary approaches across philosophy, political science, women's studies, and sociology.