PHIL 4001 Feminisms and Philosophies of Difference
What does it mean to call oneself (or someone else) a 'feminist'? In attempting an answer to this question, we will consider efforts to reveal, unravel, and remedy the conceptual, psychological, and economic dimensions of the oppression of women. We will discuss a variety of feminisms--liberal, existential, radical--and their differing approaches to such 'feminist' issues as marriage and domestic violence, reproduction and pregnancy, work and sexual harassment, and the science of gender and gender difference. We will examine the relationship of sexism to racism, heterosexism, and class exploitation, and investigate the role of the concept of difference in creating and maintaining structural inequalities.
Course overview
- Department
- Philosophy
- School
- MCAS
- Credits
- 3
- Level
- Undergraduate
- Offered
- Periodically in the Fall
Requirements fulfilled
- International Studies: Concentration: Cooperation and Conflict – approved courses (six courses in one concentration) (Current University Catalog; students should confirm their catalog year)
- International Studies: Concentration: Ethics and Social Justice – approved courses (six courses in one concentration) (Current University Catalog; students should confirm their catalog year)
- International Studies: Concentration: Global Cultures – Cultures and Social Movements cluster (six courses; electives must come from one cluster) (Current University Catalog; students should confirm their catalog year)
- Philosophy: Ethics and Value distribution (one course) (Current University Catalog; students should confirm their catalog year)
- Philosophy: Free Philosophy electives (five courses, 15 credits); up to two approved cognate courses in other departments may also count (Current University Catalog; students should confirm their catalog year)
- Philosophy: Knowledge and Reality distribution (one course) (Current University Catalog; students should confirm their catalog year)
Course evaluations
- Course rating
- 4.80 / 5 · Excellent
- Instructor rating
- 4.85 / 5 · Excellent
- Terms evaluated
- 6
| Term | Instructor | Course overall | Instructor overall | Well organized | Clear learning objectives | Intellectually challenging | Helpful assignments | Applicable beyond course | Attendance necessary | Weekly effort | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 2026 | Cherie Mcgill | 4.8 | 4.9 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.7 | 4.8 | 5.0 | 4.8 | 1–3 hrs/week | 21 of 25 |
| Fall 2024 | Cherie Mcgill | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.9 | 4.8 | 4–6 hrs/week | 11 of 15 |
| Spring 2024 | Cherie Mcgill | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.3 | 4.7 | 4.9 | 4.6 | 1–3 hrs/week | 12 of 14 |
| Fall 2023 | Cherie Mcgill | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 15 of 19 |
| Fall 2022 | Cherie Mcgill | 5.0 | 5.0 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 4.6 | 4.9 | 5.0 | 4.8 | 4–6 hrs/week | 15 of 19 |
| Fall 2021 | Cherie Mcgill | 5.0 | 5.0 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 4.9 | 4–6 hrs/week | 16 of 20 |