Feminist consciousness and activism have long been a global phenomenon, and never restricted to one locale, culture, or context. Through an interdisciplinary perspective, this course critically analyzes how feminists worldwide - all of whom share a desire to improve the status of women - may have diametrically opposed views about how to do so both within and between countries. This course examines feminist theories and concepts that can help us better appreciate the diversity and heterogeneity among feminisms, as well as the role and potential of cross-border solidarity and collective action around various feminist concerns. In the early weeks of the course, we will analyze and define concepts such as intersectionality, othering, and postcolonial feminism as a way to recognize the historical power imbalance, hierarchies, and essentialism that has impacted our understandings of particularly non-Western feminism, including religiously inspired forms of feminism, such as Islamic feminism. Rather than a survey course of various forms of feminisms across the globe, it aims to cover the necessary tools to analyze and research feminist action (or inaction) in contexts such as your own or across the globe.
4-5 units · Letter or Credit/No Credit
Feminist consciousness and activism have long been a global phenomenon, and never restricted to one locale, culture, or context. Through an interdisciplinary perspective, this course critically analyzes how feminists worldwide - all of whom share a desire to improve the status of women - may have diametrically opposed views about how to do so both within and between countries. This course examines feminist theories and concepts that can help us better appreciate the diversity and heterogeneity among feminisms, as well as the role and potential of cross-border solidarity and collective action around various feminist concerns. In the early weeks of the course, we will analyze and define concepts such as intersectionality, othering, and postcolonial feminism as a way to recognize the historical power imbalance, hierarchies, and essentialism that has impacted our understandings of particularly non-Western feminism, including religiously inspired forms of feminism, such as Islamic feminism. Rather than a survey course of various forms of feminisms across the globe, it aims to cover the necessary tools to analyze and research feminist action (or inaction) in contexts such as your own or across the globe.
Offered in Autumn 2025 at Stanford University.