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WOMEN'S STUDIES MIDTERM

Terms in this set (76)

Androcentrism
the practice, conscious or otherwise, of placing male human beings or a masculine point of view at the center of one's world view, culture, and history.
Gender
refers to the socially constructed roles, behaviors, activities, and attributes that a society considers appropriate for men and women. Different from sex, which is assigned at birth.
First-wave, Second-wave, Third-wave feminism
1. women's suffrage, political/legal rights for women. Late 1800's, early 1900's.
2. Equal opportunities in workplace, reproductive rights, sexuality, roe vs. wade, 60's-80's.
3. Global, multi-cultural feminism, women in military, etc. 90's--up until now.
Intersectionality
shows how the experience of gender differs by race, class, and other dimensions of inequality. Interconnected nature of these things in creating overlapping and interdependent systems of discrimination or advantage.
A white woman is penalized by her gender but has the advantage of race. A black woman is disadvantaged by her gender and her race. A Latina lesbian experiences discrimination because of her ethnicity, her gender and her sexual orientation.
Liberal vs. Radical Feminism
Liberal = believe in the viability of the present system and work within this context for change in such public areas as education and employment. Liberal feminists attempt to remove obstacles to women's full participation in public life.
Radical = recognize the oppression of women as a fundamental political oppression wherein women are categorized as inferior based upon their gender.
Gender Assignment
male or female at birth
Gender Identity
how one feels internally about one's gender
Gender Expression
how one would perform and express gender to those around us
Greater Male Variability Hypothesis
Theory that males have a greater variability or range of ability, especially when it comes to intelligence than women. That means that there are more men that are geniuses and more men that are mentally impaired.
Sexual Scripts
Cultural norms that provide us with how to behave in sexual situations. These are provided by the media and society. Direction for how to feel, behave, and think in particular sexual situations.
Sexual Self-Schemas
Ideas and beliefs about sexual aspects of the self that are established from past and present experiences and which act to guide sexual feelings and behaviors.
"Male Gaze"
The way in which the visual arts and literature depict the world and women from a masculine point of view, presenting women as objects of male pleasure.
"Angel in the House"
The popular Victorian image of the ideal wife/mother. She is a woman who is expected to be submissive and devoted to her husband.
Mary Woolstonecraft: A Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1792)
One of the earliest works of feminist philosophy. Woolstonecraft was one of the early figures fighting for education and Civil Rights. She argued for the political and social right of women. She talks about the education of women and how women should be companions and equals to their husbands rather than mere wives. she argues that women are vitally important to the nation, partly because they are educating the nation's children/future adults.

She talks about how women are only educated so as to please men-- learning how to play the piano, paint, take care of a home, cook, etc. These are all dainty things that will aid in work in the home and for a husband, but no where else.

She writes that if women will not deem themselves respectable and act that way, then they may as well be like slaves.
Strengthen the female mind by ___________it, and there will be an end to ___________ _______________________.
Enlarging, Blind Obedience. Mary Woolstonecraft, 1792
"________wives are, in general, __________ mothers."
Meek, Foolish. Mary Woolstonecraft, A vindication of the Rights of Women.
Seneca Falls Convention
1848. Women had no rights, were seen as property of their husbands. The convention was a series of meetings to discuss the social, civil, and religious condition and rights of woman. It was 2 days long and held in Seneca New York.
Elizabeth Cady Stanton
Revolutionary fighting for women's rights and civil rights. Women's right to vote. Frederick Douglass backed her up on the proposal of women's suffrage. She opposed the granting of the right to vote to black men when both black and white women were denied the same right. She was the president of the National Women's Suffrage Association from 1892-1900.
The Introduction to the Women's Bible
Written by Elizabeth Cady Stanton. This piece of literature talks about how the Bible reinforces the idea that women were made after men and for men, therefore women should always be subjected to men. This became the default answer when women protested against their unequal position in the church. She believed that religion was the leading cause of women's oppression.
Declaration of Sentiments
Written by Elizabeth Cady Stanton. It was modeled after the Declaration of Independence and outlined many of the privileges that women did not have at that time in the U.S. She talks about how she was frustrated by having to submit to laws of which she had no say. This document was signed by 68 women and 32 men. Caused a lot of controversy.
Susan B. Anthony
Women's Right Activist. She was introduced to Elizabeth Cady Stanton and they teamed up. Her and Stanton formed many associations and leagues. She dedicated her life to the cause. She held meetings, and was arrested for casting her vote "illegally." She refused to pay the fine and they let it go. She is responsible for the passing of the 19th Amendment in 1920.
When was the National Women's Suffrage Association established and by whom?
in 1869 by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony.
Carrie Chapman Catt
led an army of voteless women in 1919 to pressure Congress to pass the constitutional amendment giving them the right to vote and convinced state legislatures to ratify it in 1920. Succeeded Anthony as president of the National American Woman Suffrage Association and was the founder of the League of Women Voters and the International Alliance of Women.
Harriet Blatch
Daughter of Stanton. Formed the women's political union. Gave many open-air speeches about women's suffrage.
Alice Paul
Suffragette; was arrested 3 times; forcibly fed in jail when on a hunger strike. She was one of the main leaders and strategists that helped get the 19th amendment passed. She organized the Women's suffrage procession.
Who founded the Congressional Union for Women's Suffrage and when?
Alice Paul, 1913
When was the Women's March on Washington?
1913
Jeannette Rankin
Women's Right advocate; first women to hold national office in the United States. She was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives by Montana in 1916 and again in 1940.
On what date was the 19th amendment ratified?
August 17th, 1920
In what year did John Stuart Mill write "The Subjection of Women"?
1869
The Subjection of Women
This was written by Mill together with his wife; an essay about the necessity of equality for men and women. He argues that women are not intellectually and physically lesser than men, and that as a whole society we are weaker if half of the people (women) are not allowed to contribute.
In what year what the National Society for Women's Suffrage in Britain founded?
1872
Emmaline Pankhurst
British political activist and leader of the British suffragette movement who helped women win the right to vote. Her tactics were militant and radical.
In what year were all women granted the right to vote in Britain?
1928
Florence Nightingale's "Cassandra"
famous piece of literature; talks about a woman's place in society. "Why have women passion, intellect, moral activity, and a place in society where none of these three can be exercised?" She argues that if women were allowed to do the same jobs as men, they would have time to study and learn and think. Asks, is man's time more valuable than woman's? or is the difference between men and women that women have nothing to do? Women have been trained to think that their time should be spend doing something of such unimportance that they could be interrupted at any time for anyone who is doing something more important. Men believed that if their wives accomplished more and carried things out then their "domestic life" would be destroyed. Husbands and wives do not engage in important questions together.
Elizabeth Barrett Browning's "Aurora Leigh"
A poem/novel; Aurora is the main character. Her cousin, Romney Leigh, proposes marriage to her. He is skeptical about her poetic ability, telling her that women do not have the passion, intellectual capacity, or redemptive qualities to be true artists. Because of this, and because she feels that he is too wrapped up in his social work and ideals to be a good husband, she angrily rejects him. Aurora's aunt chastises her for refusing him, telling her that because he is the male heir, he will inherit all of the estate and Aurora will be left with nothing. Shortly afterwards, her aunt dies. Romney attempts to give Aurora money, but she refuses it, deciding to go to London to make her living as a poet.
Virginia Woolf "Thinking About Shakespeare's Sister" (1929)
In this story, Woolf hypothesizes about what life would have been like for someone like Shakespeare's sister, though it is a hypothetical situation. She frames a talented woman, who writes and reads and wants to do the things that her brother is successfully doing, but to no avail, for she is ridiculed for even considering the option. She is taken advantage of and become pregnant. She is disregarded. She eventually does not feel that she has a life of her own, so she commits suicide.
Simone De Beuvoir "The Second Sex" (1989)
Starting point of second wave feminism. She talks about women as "the other".
Betty Friedan, "The Feminine Mystique" (1963)
Talks about "the problem that has no name." For so long, women weren't talking about the fact they they were underprivileged. Literature and articles and men were constantly telling women that they could desire no greater destiny than to glory in their own femininity. "Truly feminine women do not want careers.." True role of women is housewife and mother. Many women in the 50's and 60's were feeling empty, incomplete, angry, sad and they didn't know how to explain why. We can no longer ignore the voice within women that says "I want something more than my husband and children and my home."
In what year was the National Organization for Women founded and by who?
1966 by Betty Friedan and others
Gloria Steinem
writer, lecturer, political activist, feminist organizer. Started Ms magazine, feminist magazine.
What artist created the installation "dinner party"?
Judy Chicago
What is the meaning of the dinner party?
feminist artwork--symbolic of women throughout history who were not represented or mentioned in history. She wanted to represent the richness of women's heritage through her work.
What were some of the common themes of Cindy Sherman's photos?
Photographed women as they were traditionally portrayed. The side-kick, unimportant figure. Photo of the woman waiting for a phone call. Critiquing the way that women are often portrayed in movies and photos. History portraits—parodies.
Who were the Guerilla Girls?
- group of professional women in NY started the guerilla girls. Fought against sexism in art. Late 80's. They revealed sexist happenings through humor, art, and texts. Posters, billboards, books. Creative complaining. Trying to expose sexism in the art field.
Who was Barbara Krueger?
collage artist. Makes big billboard size posters critiquing the traditional stereotypes of men and women.
"I shop therefore I am"
"Your body is a battleground"
What was the name of Charlotte Perkins Gillman's famous piece of writing and what was it about?
The Yellow Wallpaper
What was Kate Chopin's piece called and what was it about?
The Story of an Hour
Explain the controversies and positive things about the creation of Wonder Woman.
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How and where did women's studies begin? What were the initial strategies and goals of women's studies programs?
In the late 60's and 70's, students were realizing that women were not being represented on their college campuses. In their english courses, they would be reading from all male authors, there were very few female faculty as professors and if there were, they were part time or junior positions. Women as subjects were slowly integrated into existing curriculum. This shifted the focus from an androcentric curriculum to more of a woman involved curriculum including classes such as "Women in Art" and "Women in US History".
What are the goals of most women's studies programs today?
1. to understand the social construction of gender
2. to examine the intersection of gender with other systems of inequality in women's lives
3. To learn about the status of women and other marginalized peoples in society and ways to improve that status through individual and collective action for social change.
4. To experience how institutions in society affect individual lives and to be able to think critically about the roles of patterns of privilege and discrimination in our lives.
5. to develop critical thinking skills, improve writing and speaking skills, and empower self and others.
What are the core principles of feminism? What does it mean to be a "feminist"?
Feminism concerns equality and justice. It is inclusive and affirming of women and expressions of femininity; celebrates women's achievements and struggles and works to provide a positive stance towards women and expressions of the feminine.
What are the six "myths" of feminism, and how might you counter them? (Note: Your text refers to five, but we added a sixth in class.)
1. feminists are angry, whiny women, have no sense of humor, and exaggerate discrimination against women.
2. feminists hate men or want to be like men and want power over men.
3. all feminists are lesbians
4. feminists reject motherhood, consider children a burden, and reject all things feminine.
5. feminism is dismissed as a white, middle-class movement that draws energy away from attempts to correct social and economic problems.
How does Adrienne Rich differentiate between "receiving" an education and "claiming" one in the article "Claiming an Education"? What relevance does her argument have for the field of women's studies?
She says that to claim something is to take as the rightful owner, whereas receiving something is to come into possession of. The difference is in acting and being acted upon.
What, according to the article "Forty Years of Women's Studies," is the importance of intersectionality in Women's Studies?
It is a tool for social justice. Its focus is to transform knowledge by fully incorporating the ideas, experiences, and critical perspectives of previously excluded groups.
In "Feminist Politics: Where We Stand," bell hooks states that "masses of people continue to believe that God has ordained that women be subordinate to men in the domestic household" and that "the vision of domestic life which continues to dominate the nation's imagination is one in which the logic of male domination is intact." What sexist misconceptions is she pointing out?
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Why does Anna Quindlen think we still need the "F" word? What does she see as the recurring problems in our society that still haven't been solved? (Think of the Duke University study and the problems with Arnold Schwarzenegger.) What does she mean in saying that "women have won the right to do as much as men do. They just haven't won the right to do as little as men do"?
Some people think that we are in a post-feminism era, that sexist issues and inequality is in the past. In reality, it is still an issue, and we still need to be talking about these things.
The study with Duke University talks about the need for perfectionism that the women students feel there. They feel that they must hide their intelligence in order to succeed with their male peers.
When she writes and says, "women have won the right to do as much as men do. They just haven't won the right to do as little as men do" she is talking about "effortless perfection." Women are obsessed over being the perfect homemaker and impressing men, while also trying to become a professional and meet the standards of their male counter parts. They are trying to achieve perfection.
What was the prevalent view in Wollstonecraft's day about education for women? What was its purpose? What subjects were emphasized?
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According to Wollstonecraft, what were some of the inherent problems in the system of education for women in her day?
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Who is Wollstonecraft's principal targeted audience in the Vindication? Why? How does Wollstonecraft see women as enablers in upholding the present system of education?
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What was the prevalent view in Wollstonecraft's day on women's ability to reason? What traits were valued in women instead of reason?
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Who is Wollstonecraft's principal targeted audience in the Vindication? Why? How does Wollstonecraft see women as enablers in upholding the present system of education?
I think that her audience is both men and women.
What does Wollstonecraft mean by "masculine women"? In what way does she think women should become more "masculine"?
imitation of manly virtues, or, more properly speaking, the attainment of those talents and virtues, the exercise of which ennobles the human character, and which raise females in the scale of animal being, when they are comprehensively termed mankind
What comparisons does Wollstonecraft make between women and army personnel? What do both have in common? What are the negative effects of being taught to please?
They were taught to please, and they only live to please.
they become a prey to prejudices, and taking all their opinions on credit, they blindly submit to authority. So that, if they have any sense, it is a kind of instinctive glance, that catches proportions, and decides with respect to manners; but fails when arguments are to be pursued below the surface, or opinions analyzed.
What are Wollstonecraft's principal reasons for advocating the same type of education for both women and men? What benefits does she see for women in particular and society in general?
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What are the female "counterfeits" of the principles of reason, virtue, and knowledge that should characterize the individual and govern society? How does Wollstonecraft differentiate between "manners" and "morals" and why is this important?
they both acquire manners before morals, and a knowledge of life before they have, from reflection, any acquaintance with the grand ideal outline of human nature.
What are Wollstonecraft's views on a proper husband/wife relationship in marriage? Why is "friendship" so important?
become the friend, and not the humble dependent of her husband.
How and why was the suffrage movement initially intertwined with the abolition movement?
many women involved in early abolition became leaders in the women's rights and suffrage movements. The women's rights movement applied the arguments for human rights and equality used in the abolition movement to their own lives and demanded equal consideration for women.
Who was Elizabeth Cady Stanton? What was her role in the fight for the vote?
Wrote the declaration of sentiments, held the famous Seneca Falls Convention. She and Anthony worked together to secure general rights for women and the right to vote. She later wrote the women's bible.
What was the National Women's Suffrage Association and who founded it in 1869? (Note: The name was later changed to the National American Woman Suffrage Association when it merged with the American Woman Suffrage Association in 1890. It was reformed into the League of Women Voters in 1920.)
Stanton and Anthony founded it. It gave priority to securing women the right to vote, and the group often stirred public debate through its reform proposals on a number of social issues, including marriage and divorce.
What was Susan B. Anthony's "defense" for having voted in the presidential election, as argued in the "Constitutional Argument" of 1898 (in your text)? What does she mean in saying that "it is downright mockery to talk to women of their enjoyment of the blessings of liberty while they are denied the only means of securing them provided by this democratic-republican government—the ballot"?
Her defense is that she did not commit a crime by voting, she simply exercised her citizen's right guaranteed to her and all United States citizens by the Constitution.
She talks about how the constitution does not say, "we, the white male citizens, or we, the male citizens," but rather, "we, the people" who formed the union to secure the blessings of liberty.
Who was Harriet Blatch? What was her approach in energizing the suffrage movement around the turn of the century?
Daughter of Stanton. Formed the women's political union. Gave many open-air speeches about women's suffrage.
Who was Alice Paul? What had she learned from Emmeline Pankhurst during her time in London? How did she apply this to her strategies in working for suffrage in the early part of the 20th century? What was the Congressional Union for Woman Suffrage that she helped found in 1913? (Note: This became the National Woman's Party in 1917.)
Suffragette; was arrested 3 times; forcibly fed in jail when on a hunger strike. She was one of the main leaders and strategists that helped get the 19th amendment passed. She organized the Women's suffrage procession. She was inspired by the suffragette movement in Britain, Paul introduced some of the militant methods used by the Women's Social and Political Union in Britain to the CU and its members. These included direct actions, organizing huge demonstrations, and the daily picketing of the White House.
What was the March on Washington of 1913?
The event was scheduled on the day before President Woodrow Wilson's inauguration to "march in a spirit of protest against the present political organization of society, from which women are excluded."
Who was Jeannette Rankin of Montana and why was she important?
Women's Right advocate; first women to hold national office in the United States. She was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives by Montana in 1916 and again in 1940.
What was the Susan B. Anthony Amendment? When was it finally ratified by 36 states?
The 19th amendment. It was ratified on August 18th, 1920.
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