Women's and Gender Studies (WGST) 266

Overview

Almost 100 years ago, American journalist Rebecca West wrote in The Clarion, "I myself have never been able to find out exactly what feminism is. I only know that people call me a feminist whenever I express sentiments that differentiate me from a doormat."

Women's and Gender Studies 266: Thinking from Women's Lives—An Introduction to Women's Studies sets out to clarify exactly what feminism is. It provides an overview of the history of feminism in a Western context, a look at the major theories used by feminist scholars, and an examination of feminism’s association with the Women’s Movement. Through topics such as work, body image, and violence against women, this course illustrates the value and relevance of feminist thinking and activism today. The ways in which gender intersects with race, class and sexuality will be highlighted throughout the course.

Outline

• Unit 1: Introducing Women's Studies
• Unit 2: Herstories: Theory, Activism, and Women’s Lives
• Unit 3: Unessential Women and the Third Wave
• Unit 4: Advocating for a Better World: Women and Activism
• Unit 5: Diversity and Difference
• Unit 6: Women, Work, and Caregiving
• Unit 7: Bodies and Representations
• Unit 8: Violence Against Women
• Unit 9: Women and Health

Evaluation

To receive credit for WGST 266, you must complete four assignments, and achieve a course composite grade of at least "D" (50 percent). The weighting of the composite grade is as follows:

Note: All written assignments are open book. To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University's online Calendar.

Course Materials

Textbooks

Other Materials

AU produced booklet of the Commentaries written by the Course Authors. All other course materials will be accessed online.

Challenge for Credit Course Overview

The Challenge for Credit process allows students to demonstrate that they have acquired a command of the general subject matter, knowledge, intellectual and/or other skills that would normally be found in a university level course.

Full information for the Challenge for Credit can be found in the Undergraduate Calendar.

• Undergraduate Challenge for Credit Policy
• Undergraduate Challenge for Credit Procedures

Challenge Evaluation

To receive credit for the WGST 266 challenge registration, you must achieve a grade of at least “D” (50 percent) on the examination.

Undergraduate Challenge for Credit Course Registration Form

• Challenge for Credit Form