THE UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA Women's Studies Program W ST 302 Feminist Research and Methodologies (Winter Term, 1991-92) Instructor: Ann Hall Ann_Hall@mts.ucs.ualberta.ca Office: P-320B Pavilion or Trailer Complex #1 Phone: 492-1031 (P.E. office) or 492-0327 (W St office) or 439-1574 (home) Prerequisite: W ST 200 (or permission of instructor). OBJECTIVES: (1) To consider some of the epistemological assumptions underlying the research and theoretical projects of traditional disciplines (e.g., positivism, phenomenology, critical-dialectical). (2) To explore feminist adaptations and critiques of these assumptions and traditonal disciplines. (3) To demystify the research process and give students an opportunity to design a research project of their own choosing. (4) To acquaint students with the major bibliographic tools in Women's Studies. BRIEF OUTLINE: This course will be less about method (techniques for gathering evidence) and more about methodology (theory and analysis of how research should proceed) and epistemological issues (presuppositions about the nature of knowledge and of science that inform practical enquiry). One cannot identify the distinctive features of feminist research by focussing on methods although it is certainly important for students to know, for example, when a questionnaire might be useful, when to rely on structured interviews, when to use document analysis, or the difference between a case study and an ethnography. What makes research distinctively feminist lies in the complex connections between epistemologies, methodologies and research methods. We will explore how these connections are formed in the traditional disciplines, why they are problematic and what, specifically, are the feminist critiques (there are several) of these intersections. The way into these fairly complex theoretical issues will be through specific subject areas (e.g., violence against women, sexuality, pay equity, sexual harassment) where there is substantial scholarship in both traditional and feminist analytic modes so that the differences in approach become evident. At the completion of this course, students should: (1) be able to think critically as feminists and about feminism; (2) have a good understanding of the debates and issues inherent in feminist discussions of epistemology and methodology; and (3) have some sense of where (or to whom) to go for more information, knowledge, and specialized methodological training. COURSE MATERIALS: There are no specific texts for this course, although a number of the important books have been placed in the Undergraduate Reserve Room in Cameron Library for easier access. Readings not available in the books on reserve are also in the Cameron Reserve Room. Most readings are also on reserve in the St. Stephen's College Library. REQUIREMENTS: Class participation (10%) Insofar as it is possible, the course will be conducted as a seminar, and it is expected that everyone will contribute to class discussions. Students will be given the opportunity to self-evaluate their participation in and facilitation of discussions. Research Journal (20%) Keep a research journal that briefly outlines the basic ideas of all your assigned readings as well as anything else you read related to the course content. More importantly, outline your responses, both intellectual and emotional, to these ideas, and the questions they raise for you. This journal must be kept as you go along, and should be helpful in preparing for class discussions. The journal will be checked and returned the week of February 17, with final submission at the end of term. (Note: The journal will receive full marks providing that it seems complete). DUE: Wednesday, April 8. Short Essay (30%) A 2,500 to 3,000 word essay on a topic related to the first half of the course content. Together we will develop a list of potential topics. DUE: Monday, March 2. Major Essay/Project (40%) First, chose a topic, theme or problem (you may wish to consult the instructor). You will need to get started early in the term. You may wish to work with a partner, or at most two others (each participant will receive the same grade). The essay/project will proceed in three stages: (a) Brief proposal (2-3 pages) as to the nature of the "problem" and how you propose to proceed (10%). DUE: Monday, February 3. (b) A brief up-date (1-2 pages) as to how you are proceeding (5%). DUE: Monday, March 16. (c) Final report of your essay/project -- the form and length of which will have been mutually agreed upon (25%). DUE: On or before Wednesday, April 15. SCHEDULE AND READINGS: January 6 - 10: Introduction to Course Introductions; discussion of course goals and expectations, personal goals and expectations, course requirements and schedule). Reading: Bunch, C., "Not by Degrees: Feminist Theory and Education," in C. Bunch and S. Pollack (Eds.), Learning Our Way: Essays in Feminist Education (The Crossing Press, 1983), pp. 248-260. (xeroxed) January 13 - 12: What is Feminist Scholarship?: An Introduction An introduction to issues of method, methodology and epistemology as they relate to feminist scholarship. Reading: Westcott, M., "Feminist Criticism in the Social Sciences," Harvard Educational Review, 49(4), 1979, 422-430 (Reprinted in Nielsen, Feminist Research Methods which is on reserve). Harding, S., "Introduction: Is There a Feminist Method?" in Harding, Feminism & Methodology. (Book on reserve) Supplemental: Nielsen, J., "Introduction" in Feminist Research Methods (Book on reserve). de Laurentis, T., "Feminist Studies/Critical Studies: Issues, Terms and Contexts," in Feminist Studies/Critical Studies (Indiana U Press, 1986), pp. 1-19. (Book on reserve) January 20 - 24: Patriarchy in the Library: What to Do? Lillian MacPherson, Women's Studies librarian at the University of Alberta, will discuss problems (and solutions) for Women's Studies' students wishing to gain the most from a library system never designed for cross or interdisciplinary study. On Wednesday, we will visit two "alternative" libraries if you are not familiar with them already (specifically, St. Stephen's College and the Women's Program and Resource Centre). On Friday, we will get organized for the next section. Reading: Papers by Hope Olsen, Melody Burton, and Pat Leginsky in Feminist Research Forum (Edmonton: Women's Program and Resource Center, 1990). (On reserve under Olsen) Jan. 27 - Feb. 7: Transforming the Academy: An Assessment Here we will attempt to assess the impact of feminist scholarship on the traditional social science and humanities disciplines. Students will work in groups of two or three and read specifically in one subject area. Since in most cases there is a 10 to 15 year span between publication of the articles, it is important to examine the differences you notice in the issues discussed in the mid to late seventies and more recently. You may also wish to "interview" a feminist scholar in the area on campus to explore her perceptions of the impact of feminist scholarship on her particular discipline. Reading: HISTORY Kelly-Gadol, J., "The Social Relation of the Sexes: Methodological Implications," of Women's History," Signs, 1976, 1(4), 809-825 (reprinted in Feminism & Methodology which is on reserve). Gordon, L., "What's New in Women's History," in de Lauretis, T., Feminist Studies, Critical Studies (Indiana U Press, 1986), pp. 21-30 (Book on reserve). SOCIOLOGY Millman, M., and R.M. Kanter, "Introduction to Another Voice: Feminist Perspectives on Social Life and Social Science," (published in 1975 and reprinted in Feminism & Methodology which is on reserve). Smith, D., "Women's Perspective as a Radical Critique of Sociology" (published in 1974 and reprinted in Feminism & Methodology which is on reserve) ANTHROPOLOGY Stack, C.B., et al., "Review Essay: Anthropology," Signs, 1975, 1(1), 147-59. (Article on reserve) Jacobson, H.E., "Speaking From the Shadows: An Introduction to Feminist Thinking in Anthropology," The CRIAW Papers/Les Documents de l'ICREF (CRIAW/ICREF, 1989). (Book on reserve) Sperling, S., "Baboons with Briefcases: Feminism, Functionalism, and Sociobiology in the Evolution of Primate Gender," Signs, 17(1), 1991, 1-27. (Article on reserve) PSYCHOLOGY Sherif, C.W., "Bias in Psychology" (published in 1979 and reprinted in Feminism & Methodology which is on reserve). Gilligan, C., "Woman's Place in Man's Life Cycle" (published in 1979 and reprinted in Feminism & Methodology which is on reserve). Lips, H.M., "Toward a New Science of Human Being and Behavior," in W. Tomm (Ed.), The Effects of Feminist Approaches on Research Methodologies (CIH, 1989), pp. 51-69. (Book on reserve) ECONOMICS Armstrong, P., "Theoretical Approaches," in P. Armstrong, Labour Pains: Women's Work in Crisis (The Women's Press, 1984), pp. 19-48 (Book on reserve). LAW/JURISPRUDENCE Smith, L., "What is Feminist Legal Research," in W. Tomm (Ed.), The Effects of Feminist Approaches on Research Methodologies (CIH, 1989), pp. 70-110. (book on reserve) Razack, S., "Wrong Rights: Challenges of Applying Feminism to the Law," in Canadian Feminism and the Law (Second Story Press, 1991), pp. 11-26 (Article on reserve). PHILOSOPHY Pierce, C., "Review Essay: Philosophy," Signs, 1975, 1(2), 487-503.(Article on reserve) Hanan, M., "Feminism, Reason and Philosophical Method," in W. Tomm (Ed.), The Effects of Feminist Approaches on Research Methodologies (CIH, 1989), pp. 31-50. (Book on reserve) LITERARY STUDIES Showalter, E., "Review Essay: Literary Criticism," Signs, 1975, 1(2), 435-60. (Article on reserve) Dalley, A.B., "The Politics of Writing (The) Body: Ecriture Feminine" (published in 1989 and reprinted in Gender/Body/Knowledge which is on reserve). Perry, D., "Procne's Song: The Task of Feminist Literary Criticism" (published in 1989 and reprinted in Gender/Body/Knowledge which is on reserve). POLITICAL SCIENCE Boals, K., "Review Essay: Political Science," Signs, 1975, 1(1), 161-74. (Article on reserve) Ackelsberg, M., and I. Diamond, "Gender and Political Life: New Directions in Political Science," in B.B. Hess and M.M. Ferree (Ed.), Analyzing Gender: A Handbook of Social Science Research (Sage, 1987), pp. 504-525. (Book on reserve) RELIGIOUS STUDIES Driver, A.B., "Review Essay: Religion," Signs, 1976, 2(2), 434-49 (Article on reserve). Christ, C.P., "Toward a Paradigm Shift in the Academy and in Religious Studies," in C.Farnham (Ed.), The Impact of Feminist Research in the Academy (Indiana U Press, 1987), pp. 53-76 (Book on reserve). ART HISTORY/CRITICISM Orenstein, G.F., "Review Essay: Art History," Signs, 1975, 1(2), 505-25. (Article on reserve) O'Neill, E., "Re(presentation) of Eros: Exploring Female Sexual Agency," (reprinted in Gender/Body/Knowledge which is on reserve). February 10 - 14: Feminist Epistemologies We will examine feminist theories of knowledge (epistemology), and specifically three variants: feminist empiricism, feminism standpoint theories (positionality), and feminist postmodernism. We will also discuss whether a feminist epistemology is possible. Reading: Harding, S., "Feminism, Science, and the Anti- Enlightenment Critiques," in L.J. Nicholson (Ed.), Feminism/Postmodernism (Routledge, 1990), pp. 83- 106 (Article on reserve). Code, L., "A Feminist Epistemology?" Chapter 8 in L. Code, What Can She Know: Feminist Theory and the Construction of Knowledge (Cornell University Press, 1991), pp. 314-324 (Article on reserve). Supplemental: Hawkesworth, M.E., "Knowers, Knowing, Known: Feminist Theory and Claims of Truth," Signs, 1989, 14(3), 533-557. Eichler, M., " The Relationship Between Sexist, Non-sexist, Woman-centred and Feminist Research in the Social Sciences," in T. McCormack (Ed.), Studies in Communication III (JAI Press, 1986), pp. 37-74. (feminist empiricism) Vickers, J.M., "Memoirs of an Ontological Exile: The Methodological Rebellions of Feminist Research," in A. Miles and G. Finn, Feminism in Canada (Black Rose Books, 1982), pp. 27-46. (feminist empiricism) Smith, D.E., "Women's Perspective as a Radical Critique of Sociology" in Feminism & Methodology (feminist standpoint theory). Hartsock, N.C.M., "The Feminist Standpoint: Developing the Ground for a Specifically Feminist Historical Materialism," in Feminism & Methodology (feminist standpoint theory). Dill, B.T., "The Dialectics of Black Womanhood," in Feminism & Methodology (feminist positionality). Narayan, V., "The Project of Feminist Epistemology: Perspectives from a Nonwestern Feminist," in Gender/Body/Knowledge (feminist positionality). Flax, J., "Postmoderism and Gender Relations in Feminist Theory," Signs, 1987, 12(4), 621-43 (feminist postmodernism). February 19 - 21: Roundtable on Your Work Group discussion about your essays, projects, and assignments. We will also do a mid-way course evaluation to assess how the course is progressing and what changes, if any, you would like to see. February 24 - 28: READING WEEK March 2 - 13: Reconceptualizations and Reconstructions We will now examine some specific subject areas where there is substantial scholarship in both traditional and feminist analytic modes so that the difference in the approach becomes more clear. Students will work in groups of two or three, and explore one area only. It will also be possible for you to explore your own particular area of interest. Reading Suggestions: BODY/FEMININITY Bordo, S.R., "The Body and the Reproduction of Femininity: A Feminist Appropriation of Foucault," in Gender/Body/Knowledge (Book on reserve). SEXUALITY Schneider, B.E., and M. Gould, "Female Sexuality" Looking Back into the Future," in B.B. Hess and M.M. Ferree (Eds.), Analyzing Gender: A Handbook of Social Science Research (Sage, 1987), pp. 120-53 (Book on reserve). Dimen, M., "Power, Sexuality, and Intimacy," in Gender/Body/Knowledge (Book on reserve). SEXUAL TERRORISM [Includes rape, battery, incest, sexual abuse of children, sexual harassment, prostitution, and sexual slavery] Sheffield, C.J., "Sexual Terrorism: The Social Control of Women," in B.B. Hess and M.M. Ferree (Eds.), Analyzing Gender: A Handbook of Social Science Research (Sage, 1987), pp. 171-89. (Book on reserve) EMOTION Jaggar, A., "Love and Knowledge: Emotion in Feminist Epistemology," in Gender/Body/Knowledge (Book on reserve). CARING/ETHICS Tronto, J.C., "Women and Caring: What Can Feminists Learn About Morality from Caring" in Gender/Body/Knowledge (Book on reserve). Arnault, L.S., "The Radical Future of a Classic Moral Theory," in Gender/Body/Knowledge (Book on reserve). EMPLOYMENT/PAY EQUITY Lewis, D.J., Just Give Us the Money: A Discussion of Wage Discrimination and Pay Equity (Women's Research Centre, 1988). (Book on reserve) FAMILY Eichler, M., "Beyond the Sexist Bias in Family Literature," Chapter 3 in M. Eichler, Families in Canada Today 2nd Edition (Gage, 1988). (Book on reserve) LEISURE/SPORT Deem, R., "Feminism and Leisure Studies: Opening Up New Directions," in E. Wimbush and M. Talbot (Eds.), Relative Freedoms: Women and Leisure (Open University Press, 1988), pp. 5-17. (Book on reserve) Hall, M.A., "The Discourse of Gender and Sport: from Femininity to Feminism," Sociology of Sport Journal, 1988, 5(4), 330-340. (Article on reserve) Mar. 16 - Apr. 3: Doing Feminist Research We will now try to put all that we have learned thus far into perspective and examine some of the issues inherent in "doing feminist research" by looking at some specific examples and actual practice (praxis). We will also discuss your own specific projects. GENERAL ISSUES Here we will examine the relationship between feminist epistemologies and methodologies (and methods). Some of the issues we will discuss are: value-neutrality, positivism, objectivity, colonianism, "double-consciousness", standpoints, dualisms, dominant paradigms, praxis, and emancipatory research. Reading: Hall, M.A., "Knowledge and Gender: Epistemological Questions in the Social Analysis of Sport," in G.H. Nemiroff (Ed.), Women and Men: Interdisciplinary Readings on Gender (Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 1987), pp. 80-102. (xeroxed) Ladner, J.A., "Introduction to Tomorrow's Tomorrow: The Black Woman," in Feminism and Methodology. Gorelich, S., "The Changer and the Changed: Methodological Reflections on Studying Jewish Feminists," in Gender/Body/Knowledge. EXAMPLES AND PRACTICE (PRAXIS) How do we actually go about "doing feminist research". It should be clear by now that there is no one kind of feminist research since feminist scholars are hard at work in all the traditional disciplines. There is also, as you have come to understand, significant debate over appropriate epistemologies. The literature is not extensive on how feminist research ought to proceed, and most of what is available is from a social science perspective. Reading: There is no specific reading for this section, but see the annotated bibliography handed out separately. [In WMST-L SYLLABI FILELIST under METHODS BIBLIO1] April 6 - 8: Where to Go from Here? In this last week, we will try to come to some assessment of what you have learned (specifically in relation to the course objectives as well as your own personal goals). We will also discuss where each of you (especially if you are a Women's Studies major) is heading "research-wise" and specifically in relation to W ST 402 (Senior Project in Women's Studies). Finally, we will evaluate the course once again.