Foundations: Why Gender
and Women’s Studies?
Why Feminism?
Dr. Nashia Ajaz
Course Overview
• Brief introduction to the course.
• Key learning objectives:
– Understand the foundational concepts of Women’s and Gender
Studies.
– Explore the evolution and significance of feminism.
– Analyze contemporary gender issues through various lenses.
Key Terms and Concepts
Definitions:
• Gender: Socially constructed roles, behaviors, and attributes that society
considers appropriate for men and women.
• Sex: Biological differences between males and females.
• Sexuality: The way people experience and express themselves sexually.
• Feminism: Advocacy of women's rights on the grounds of political,
social, and economic equality to men.
• Intersectionality: The interconnected nature of social categorizations
such as race, class, and gender, leading to overlapping systems of
discrimination or disadvantage.
The Social Construction of Gender
• Explanation of how gender roles are not innate but are learned and
enforced by societal norms.
• Examples of how gender expectations vary across cultures and time
periods.
• Gender is more than biological differences; it’s a set of expectations
constructed by society.
• We’ll discuss how this construction influences our daily lives.
Historical Context
• The birth of Women’s Studies in the 1960s-70s.
• Transition to Gender Studies to include broader issues of masculinity,
LGBTQ+ rights, and intersectionality.
• Women’s and Gender Studies emerged in response to social
movements, evolving to address a wider range of issues.
Discussion: Personal Encounters with
Gender
• Prompt: "Reflect on a time when you became aware of gender
expectations in your life. How did it impact you?"
• Breakout groups for 10 minutes, followed by a class discussion.
• Share and discuss personal experiences with gender norms and
expectations in small groups. This will help us connect theoretical
concepts to real-life experiences.
The Four Waves of Feminism
• First Wave: Focus on suffrage and legal rights (late 19th to early 20th
century).
• Second Wave: Focus on workplace equality, reproductive rights (1960s-80s).
• Third Wave: Emphasis on diversity, intersectionality, and challenging gender
norms (1990s-2015s).
• Fourth wave: Ongoing, no agreed upon definition, social media, online
activism, hashtags, dialogues, people opening up, intersectionality (2020s
onwards)
• We’ll explore the evolution of feminist movements, each with unique
focuses and impacts.
Waves of Feminism: [Link]
Key Figures and
Events
• First Wave: Susan B. Anthony,
Sojourner Truth.
• Second Wave: Gloria Steinem,
Betty Friedan.
• Third Wave: bell hooks, Judith
Butler.
• Understanding the contributions
of key figures helps us grasp the
evolution of feminist thought.
• Explanation of
intersectionality and its
importance in modern
feminism.
• Case studies: Black
Intersectionality feminism, LGBTQ+
in Feminism inclusion.
• Intersectionality ensures
that feminism is inclusive,
considering how race, class,
and other identities
intersect with gender.
Gender Issues Today
• Gender inequality in the workplace, politics,
and education.
• Gender-based violence and the #MeToo
movement.
• Gender issues are far from resolved. We’ll
examine contemporary challenges and how
they relate to our studies.
Global Gender
Perspectives
• Comparison of gender
equality in different cultural
contexts.
• Case studies: Nordic
countries vs. Global South.
• Gender issues vary globally.
We’ll discuss how culture,
policy, and economics
shape gender experiences
around the world.
Gender in the
Media
• Analysis of how gender is
portrayed in advertising,
film, and social media.
• Examples of positive and
negative representations.
• Media plays a significant
role in shaping gender
norms. We’ll critically
analyze its influence on
perceptions of gender.
Discussion: Media and Gender
• Prompt: "Identify a recent media example
that portrays gender in a way that
challenges or reinforces stereotypes. What
message does it send?"
• Share examples and discuss their impact.
• This activity will encourage you to apply
your analytical skills to real-world media,
deepening your understanding of gender
representations.
Movie
Screening:
"Suffragette"
Analyzing "Suffragette"
• Create 7 breakout rooms
• Use discussion sheet to give prompts to each of the group.
• Discuss specific scenes or characters.
• Present your analysis to the class.
• This activity will help you apply theoretical concepts to practical
examples from the film
Module Recap and Reflection
• Summarize key points from all sessions.
• Reflect on what you’ve learned and how it applies to your understanding
of gender and feminism.
What’s Next?
• Reflection 1 due on 16th September
• Research Paper Analysis Assignment due on 26th September