Stanford University UGS 210: Spring 1991 Gender on the Crossroads between "Private" and "Public": Case Studies and Theory on Contemporary Urban Social Movements Instructor: Antje Wiener (Political Science) E-mail address: awiener@ccs.carleton.ca Sponsor: Terry Karl (Political Science) Antje Wiener Dept of Political Science COEB Building Carleton University Ottawa, Ontario Canada K1S 5B6 I. Conceptualization 1. Stanford courses which would be helpful, though not required, for students to have taken: - Seminar in Feminist Studies 103/203 Fall 1990, L.H. Townsend - Introduction to Feminist Studies: Issues and Methods, Feminist Studies 101, Collier, Fall 1990 - Contemporary Issues in Feminist Thought, Feminist Studies 102/202, Hansot, Fall 1990 - Sex Roles and Society, Feminist Studies 140 / Anthropology 11, Stockard, Winter 1990/91 - Feminist Theory: Gender, Power, and Justice. Political Science 154 / Feminist Studies 136, Okin, Winter 1990/91 - Seminar: The Theory of Voting in Comparative Perspective, Political Science 122M, McLean, Winter 1990/91 - Ethics of Development in a Global Environment, Political Science 140 A, B, C / Engineering 297 A, B, C, Fagan, Lusignan, Siegel, Fall, Winter, 1990/91 - Politics and Society, Sociology 141, Meyer, Fall 1990 - Urban Sociology, Sociology 150, Conell, Winter 1990/91 - Politics, Economy and Development, Political Science 114 K, Karl 1989 2. Focus of the course defined on the basis of several sub-topics or sub-issues which you expect to explore in course. Issue: Contemporary Urban Movements Sub-topics - What kind of political demands are brought up by contemporary urban movements? (students are expected to refer to movements they know or are interested in studying, i.e. peace movement, anti-nuclear movement, urban popular movement, squatter movement, women's movement) - How does contemporary research analyze social movements? What are categories of inquiry (i.e. class, gender, race)? (option: consider research on social movements selected by the students of the class) - Are gender-related processes reflected by the research and if so, how is this aspect referred to, i.e. considering the political idea about the "public" and the "private" sphere of society, and the economically defined areas of "reproduction and production"? - How do we deal with the analysis of social movements? (option: students work on the movements, they are interested in in teamwork, discussing the gender-related aspects, considering structure, organizational pattern, demands, political goals) - What are the political and social goals and what is their potential impact on political change? (students will study the national/international framework of societies in which movements emerge and relate the demands of the movements to their specific historical background) - What does the term "gender related" indicate? (we will define this term together on the basis of readings) 3. Objectives for students in the course: - discuss contemporary urban social movements comparatively - name the analytic "tools" used by the researchers - discuss critically whether gender relations are reflected in the research - learn to consider different opinions and/or ways of working on a problem by participating in an interdisciplinary discussion 4. Innovative aspects of the course: (in relation to related courses currently offered to undergraduates at Stanford) A course on urban social movements which focusses on a gender related analysis is currently not offered in the undergraduate program. The course, Gender on the Crossroads between "Private" and "Public": Case Studies and Theory on Contemporay Urban Social Movements, concentrates on a gender-specific methodology. It sheds some light on the analysis of social movements from a different perspective. We look at a variety of social movements, such as urban squatters' movements, peace movements, women's movements, which have significantly augmented during the 80s, while concentrating on contemporary urban movements. The innovative aspect of the course refers to two interrelated aspects. First, we study a variety of different urban movements, from different countries in Latin America and Western Europe, a comparison which is not common. International processes of development and political "transition to democracy" are the common points of reference, here. Secondly, we analyze these movements from a gender-specific point of view. This methodology has so far primarily been applied to the analysis of women's movements. (However, there exist critiques on "mainstream" analyses of social movements, which do not refer to gender- specific questions). During the course we will ask for the gender-specific organizational structures, membership, political strategies and demands of urban movements in purpose to improve both, our understanding of the term "gender" as well as our ability to use it as a methodological "tool" for future research. My experience with courses on social movements at the Free University in Berlin showed that this topic is especially interesting for undergraduate students who often are involved in political activities themselves and/or have questions about political processes. We will draw on this interest, discuss it in an interdisciplinary way, and follow the process from personal "needs" on their way to "public demands", and analyze its potential for democratization and political change in current capitalist societies. The work on urban movements outside the United States of America is supposed to enrich the students' knowledge on political processes within an international realm and provides the opportunity to juxtapose those with experiences in the United States. 4. Evaluation of students' performance? (ie. requirements regarding attendance, reading assignments, and reports) The criteria for evaluation will be participation in the class (quality is more important than quantity) and a written paper (ca. 10 pages); optional dependent on talk with instructor: projects like videos, fotos, collages, interviews etc.. Regular attendance is important because the classes are logically sequential. Reading assignments include about four papers per week. Students are required to provide a short summary including the main argument of the author (each student should do about three summaries throughout the class). In addition to preparing to readings students are encouraged to be critical and creative. They are welcome to include their personal experience in their comments. II. Syllabus: 1. Week: "Contemporary Urban Movements and Gender" A) Presentation of topic by instructor: What are contemporary urban movements? The introductory lecture provides an overview on worldwide processes of economic change and political transition, in the 80s, and their impact on a changing lifestyle, culture and different needs in the cities. The course will especially include the social demands as developed in connection with every-day-life in the "private sphere" and their transfer to the political realm, the "public sphere". How will we deal with the topic? The course discusses political mobilization through the lense of "gender". Its point of departure is the notion that we live in societies which are profoundly organized around gender relations. During the course we want to find out how these power relations are approached by contemporary urban social movements. This approach differs from studies on unionism or the idea of revolutionary movements which react primarily to economic change and rely on "class" as the structuring category of society. By focussing on case studies from regions so different as Latin America and Western Europe and comparing social movements from these regions, the students will learn to relate political processes on a global scale. The gender-specific view on these processes, however, provides an insight on the historical process of social change within different societies. The international development, the time (the 80s), and the place (the city) and the gender category provide the dependent variables for this comparative study, the issues of the movments and the society they refer to point at the differences which we have to consider. Readings - Frank, A.G. and M. Fuentes, Ten Theses on Social Movements, in World Development, Washington/Oxford, February 1989 - Frank, A.G. and M. Fuentes, Civil Democracy: Social Movements in recent World History, in Amin, S.; Arrighi, G.; Frank, A.G.; Wallerstein, I. (eds.) Transforming the Revolution. Social Movements and the World-System. New York: Monthly Review Press, 1990, pp. 139-180 - Motion Picture: Americas in Transition (Obie Benz, New York, 29 min, 1981) - Video: Las Madres (Munoz, Susana; Portilla, Lourdes, Buenos Aires, 1986, 64 min) H) Optional: Discussion about syllabus Co-work with students on specific course topics which might be included to the following reading list. Leading theme: How do we deal with contemporary social movements? What do we want to know about social movements in particular? Where and why do the emerge? The readings below express some general considerations on this topic referring to Latin America and Western Europe, such as: What are the demands of the movements discussed in the following classes? How can we characterize the "membership" of the movements? Is "gender" an issue of the movements, and, if so, how is it addressed to "the public"? 2. Week: Case Studies of Contemporary Urban Movements in Latin America, some introductory questions. - Jaquette, J. S, Gender and Justice in Economic Development, in Tinker, I. (ed.), Persistent Inequalities. Women and World Development. New York/Oxford: Oxford UP, 1990, pp. 54 - 69 - Stephen, L. and K. Logan, Women in Mexican Popular Movements. Critical Discussion of New Social Movements Theory, (unpubl. Ms) Nov. 1990 - Jaquette, J., Introduction, in Jaquette, J. (ed.), The Women's Movements in Latin America. Feminism and the Transition to Democracy. London: Unwin Hyman, 1989, pp. 1-17 - Jelin, E., Introduction, in Jelin, E. (ed.), Women and Social Change in Latin America. London: Zed Books, 1990, pp. 1-11 The description of current social movements from different regions and the comparison between them on the basis of recent research will provide us with the opportunity to discuss ideas and interests which are central for these movements. We will notify the specific characteristics of each movement discussed during the following four weeks. Afterwards we will juxtapose our findings with current theoretical approaches on "new" or "contemporary" social movements. 3. Week: Case Studies of Contemporary Urban Movements in Latin America (I) - Alvarez, S. E., Women in New Social Movements of Urban Brazil, in Alvarez, S.E., Engendering Democracy in Brazil. Princeton: Princeton UP, 1990, pp. 37 - 56 - Navarro, M., The Personal is Political: Las Madres de la Plaza de Mayo, in Eckstein, S. (ed.), Power and Popular Protest. Berkeley: UCP, 1989, pp. 241 - 258 - Barrig, M., The Difficult Equilibrium Between Bread and Roses: Women's Organizations and the Transition from Dictatorship to Democracy in Peru, in Jaquette, J. (ed.), The Women's Movements in Latin America. Feminism and the Transition to Democracy. London: Unwin Hyman, 1989, pp. 114 - 148 - Alves, M. H. M., Dilemmas of the consolidation of Democracy from the Top: A Political Analysis, in Latin American Perspectives 15, No.3, (Summer) 1988, pp. 47 - 63 4. Week: Case Studies from Latin America (II) - Carrillo, T., Women and Independent Unionism in the Garment Industry, in Foweraker, J. and A.L. Craig (eds.), Popular Movements and Political Change in Mexico. Boulder/London: Lynne Publishers, 1990, pp. 213 - 233 - Rodriguez, V.D., From Neighbourhood to Nation, in NACLA, Report on the Americas, Vol. 13, No.4, 1989, pp. 22 - 28 - Burns, E., Squatters' Power in San Miguel Teotongo, in NACLA, Report on the Americas, Vol. 13, No. 4, 1989, pp. 29 - 35 - Massolo, A., Reconstruyendo una Memoria Colectiva. Mujeres en Luchas Urbanas de los 70 en la Ciudad de Mexico. Ponencia Presentada en el 12 Congreso International de Sociologia de 9 a 13 de 7 de 1990 en Madrid 5. Week: Case Studies from Western Europe (I) - Katz, St. and M. Mayer, Gimme Shelter: Self Help Housing Struggles within and against the State in New York City and West Berlin, in Urban and Regional Research, Vol. 9, No.1, (March) 1985 - Mayer, M., Restructuring and Popular Opposition in West German Cities, in Smith, M. and J. Feagin (eds.), The Capitalist City. Global Restrictions and Community Politics. London: Basil Blackwell 1987. - Jenson, J., Changing Disourse, Changing Agendas: Political Rights and Reproductive Policies in France, in Katzenstein, M. F. and C. McClurg Mueller (eds.) The Women's Movements in the United States and Western Europe. Philadelphia: Temple UP, 1987, pp. 64 -88 optional: - Esser, J.; Hirsch, J., The Crisis of Fordism and the Dimensions of a 'Postfordist' Regional and Urban Structure, in International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, Vol.13, No.3, 1989, pp. 417-437 6. Week: Case Studies from Western Europe (II) - Hellman, J. A., Women's Struggle in a Worker's City: Feminist Movements in Turin, in Katzenstein, M. F. and C. McClurg Mueller (eds.), The Women's Movements in the United States and Western Europe. Philadelphia: Temple UP, 1987, pp. 111-131 - Briet, M.; Klandermans, B. and F. Kroon, How Women Become Involved in the Women's Movement of the Netherlands, in Katzenstein, M. F. and C. McClurg Mueller (eds.), The Women's Movements in the United States and Western Europe. Philadelphia: Temple UP, 1987, pp. 44-64 - Gelb, J., Feminism and Political Action, in Dalton, R. J.; Kuechler, M. (eds.), Challenging the Political Order. New York: Oxford University Press, 1990, pp. 137-155 At the end of this session we will collect the findings from the previous discussions to be able to relate them to theoretical approaches. In the following sessions we will shift from case studies to theory. Drawing on our findings we will critically discuss different theoretical approaches on "new" or "contemporary" social movements. 7. Week: Theoretical Approaches on "New Social Movements" (I) - Castells, M., The City and the Grassroots. Berkeley: UCP, 1983. (on reserve) - Tarrow, S., Struggling for Reform: Social Movements and Policy Change during Cycles of Protest. Western Societies Occ. Papers, No. 15, Center for International Studies, Ithaca, NY: Cornell University, 1983. - Rucht, D., Scenes, Logics, and Arenas of Social Movements. A Structuralist Approach, in International Social Movements Research Vol. 1, 1988 8. Week: Theoretical Approaches on "New Social Movements" (II) - Offe, C., Reflections on the Institutional Self-transformation of Movement Politics: A Tentative Stage Model, in Dalton, R. J.; Kuechler, M. (eds.), Challenging the Political Order. New York: Oxford University Press, 1990, pp. 232-250. - Cohen, J. L., Strategy or Identity: New Theoretical Paradigms and Contemporary Social Movements, in Social Research Vol. 52, No.4 (Winter) 1985, pp. 663 - 716 - Roth, R., Local Green Politics in West German Cities, in International Journal of Urban and Regional Research 1 (1991) 9. Week: Gender as an Analytic Category (I) - Scott, J. W., Gender: A Useful Category for Historical Analysis, in Scott, J.W., Gender and the Politics of History. New York, Columbia UP, 1988, pp. 28 - 53 - Scott, J. W., On Language, Gender, and Working-Class History, in Scott, J.W., Gender and the Politics of History. New York, Columbia UP, 1988, pp. 53 - 67 - Pateman, C., Feminist Critiques of the Public/Private Dichotomy, in Pateman, C., The Disorder of Women. Stanford: Stanford UP, 1989, pp. 118 - 140 - Elshtain, J. B., Public Man/Private Women. Princeton: Princeton UP, 1981. 10. Week: Gender as an Analytic Category (II) - Owen, D. and L. M. G. Zerilli, Gender and Citizenship. Paper prepared for presentation at the Annual Meeting of the APSA, Aug. 29 - Sept 2, 1990, SF - Jelin, E., Citizenship and Identity: Final Reflections, in Jelin. E. (ed.), Women and Social Change in Latin America. London: Zed Books, 1990, pp. 184-207 - Schild, V., Disordering Differences: Women and the 'Popular' Movement in Latin America. Paper presented at the XVI LASA International Congress, Washington D.C. April 4-6 1991 Extra Session (for interested students, ie. those who think of writing their honor thesis on the topic): Sonia E. Alvarez (UC Santa Cruz) and Teresa Carrillo (Stanford University) give a talk about their respective research experience with social movements in Latin America. Purpose: Students will have the possibility to discuss research methods, topics, and questions to be able to conceptualize their own research. III. Requirements for credit: 1. 3 written summaries on required readings (about 3 pages each) 2. 1 research paper (about 15 pages) 3. regular assistance and participation in class discussions -------------------------------------------------------------- Comment, March 8, 1992 A reader with two volumes was available for the students (sold at Stanford Bookstore). The master copy should still be available at Stanford's IAC program. In case you are interested I would have to ask the director of the program whether it is available for further copies. A.W.