Univerzita Karlova v Praze | Charles University in Prague

Fakulta humanitních studií | School of Humanities

Studijní program genderových studií | Graduate Program in Gender Studies

COMPARATIVE GENDER IN GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE

MANDATORY COURSE, 2^nd year, 4 ECTS

Winter 2023 Academic Year 2023/2024

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Mgr. et Mgr. Tereza Jiroutová Kynčlová, Ph.D.

tereza.jiroutovakynclova@fhs.cuni.cz

Office hours: Room 2.40, Monday 8:30-10, 13-14 pm; During Distance Learning Blocs (October 6-8; November 2-5 and 24-26; December 15-17; January 6-8): Friday 15:30-16:30, Sunday 12:30-14 OR online via MST upon email request at tereza.jiruotovakynclova@fhs.cuni.cz. Please, do let me know via email that you are interested in meeting for a consultation of an issue or a topic and we will agree on a date and time for a meeting either in person or online.

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“The danger lies in ranking the oppressions. The danger lies in failing to acknowledge the specificity of the oppression. The danger lies in attempting to deal with oppression purely from a theoretical base. Without an emotional, heartfelt grappling with the source of our own oppression, without naming the enemy within ourselves and outside us, no authentic, non-hierarchical connection among oppressed groups can take place.” (Cherríe Moraga [1981] 1983: 29)

“Alliance work is the attempt to shift positions, change positions, reposition ourselves regarding our individual and collective identities. In alliance we are confronted with the problem of how we share or don’t share space, how we can position ourselves with individuals or groups who are different from and at odds with each other, how we can reconcile one’s love for diverse groups when members of these groups do not love each other, cannot relate to each other, and don’t know how to work together.” (Gloria Anzaldúa 1990b: 219)

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COURSE ANNOTATION

This is a mandatory course for ALL second year students. The course is taught jointly for international and Czech students of the M.A. program in Gender Studies irrespective whether they are enrolled in the present or distance-learning form of study. The main purpose and goal of this mandatory course is to offer an opportunity for the diverse student body enrolled within the program to meet together in a formal academic setting and discuss the institutional, legal, social, political and personal aspects of the chosen topics as well as to encourage student networking, solidarity and mutual support.

The working language of the course is English, i.e. all communication – spoken and written in class or outside of it – will be conducted in English. While native English speakers may be at advantage, we will strive to sustain an environment where non-native English speakers will be encouraged to speak with regards to their active spoken English skills. Aspiring to create a learning environment in which people of all identities are encouraged to contribute their perspectives to academic discourse, this course (and the Gender Studies Program in general) enforces language, which is gender-inclusive, non-sexist, non-racist and culturally sensitive. That means using words that affirm and respect how people describe, express, and experience their gender, sexuality, ethnicity, culture, religion and other aspects of their identity. It’s important to think through the implications of our arguments and formulations, especially in this class, which is discussion-only. All of us are responsible for maintaining an environment that is respectful toward others.

This course focuses on several currently and cross-nationally debated topics related to gender and sexuality, both as aspects of personal identity politics as well as theoretical, institutional, political and social questions. Purposefully, the four selected topics are conceived quite broadly in order to facilitate an in-depth discussion of definitions, diverse positions and experiences within each theme. All chosen issues have been in recent years pushed to the front of media attention and covered from a variety of viewpoints, with differing outcomes and consequences in different countries and contexts, giving the students the opportunity to discuss the comparative dimensions of these topics. As such, the course is designed for 2nd-year M.A. students who have already taken the core mandatory courses in feminist theory, sociology of gender, feminist cultural and literary studies and sexuality studies. It is expected that students draw on the knowledge(s) they have produced and mastered in the said courses as well as throughout their academic and activist engagement with Gender Studies elsewhere.

There are no written assignments in this course beyond written preps for discussions prepared in the class itself (to be explained in first class). The goal of the course is to facilitate informed and competent academic discussion in English in international and multicultural environment. All requirements relate to a student’s ability to read and understand the assigned texts, to their independent preparation for and regular attendance of the seminar, and their willingness to actively share and discuss their arguments and viewpoints in the seminar itself.

FAIR ACADEMIC CONDUCT

Failure to acknowledge and properly reference sources of any kind used in assignments, papers and/or presentations is a breach to academic integrity and ethics. At all times, avoid plagiarism of any sort as it is a disciplinary offence and – upon the Faculty of Humanities Disciplinary Committee ruling – may result in termination of study. Presenting some else’s work or ideas as your own and failure to provide credits, acknowledgement, and references to all relevant sources falls under the definition of plagiarism. Should you experience uncertainty about correct ways of quoting and referencing, consult any citation manual and feel free to contact your teachers for advice. We are ready to help you. Also, be advised that the necessity to reference other people’s work and ideas applies equally to published texts (journals, books, articles, newspapers etc.) as well as unpublished texts (lectures, presentations, seminars, student papers, diploma theses etc.). Further, other forms of conveying information besides text are also subject to crediting and referencing, such as video material, audio material, computer code, photographs, graphs, illustrations, sheet music, web sites etc.

STUDENT ACCOMMODATIONS: If you have learning disabilities or you are struggling with the current pandemic-related situation and need more time to think, write and work, feel free to let me know anytime and we will find a way to make you feel comfortable while taking the course and meeting its requirements. Thank you.

REQUIREMENTS:

NOTE: Students must complete all requirements listed below in order to receive a grade for the course.

1. Attendance and Active Participation in Class Discussions (80%)

2. Written reaction paper after all 4 blocs (20%) - deadline: January 14, 2023

Attendance is MANDATORY! If you must miss a class, only serious reasons excused in advance are accepted. In case of absence, you will be asked to engage with the assigned texts in writing! Should you not be able to attend a course session, please let me know via email NO LATER than THURSDAY 2 p.m., i.e. the day preceding our Friday session.

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WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS FOR MISSED CLASSES

If you missed one (or more) of the classes during the semester and did not come to the discussions on the given Friday, you will be required to write a short essay (700 words) on question/s for each of the class you missed. The list of questions will be made available in the SIS. Your essays are to be uploaded in MST. Deadline: January 14, 2023

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Discussion is the central pedagogical method of this class. The class will be run as a pure discussion seminar, which means that the quality of discussions will be resting and depending on careful readings of the assigned material. Discussion seminar classes can offer a rewarding way to shape associations, raise stimulating questions, and push people into new areas of thinking. Unfortunately, discussion seminars can also be tedious, frustrating, and a waste of time if all members don't come prepared to talk or if all members don't feel free and safe to talk. The former is each member's responsibility; the latter is a collective one. You are responsible for doing all of the mandatory readings on time, coming to the seminar with thought-out ideas and questions about the texts and the discussed theme.

I expect everyone to come to class pr