010078 SE Contemporary Feminist Perspectives: From Theory to Practice (2025S)

Learning Objectives:
This seminar aims to develop a deep understanding of two important streams in feminist theory through intensive engagement with key texts, enabling students to explore both classical approaches and their contemporary applications. Through collaborative group work, students will enhance their advanced research and presentation skills while building competence in academic discussion through peer learning activities. The seminar places particular emphasis on developing critical analysis and academic writing abilities, as students work with complex theoretical texts and apply their insights to current debates in feminist theory.
Course Content:
Contemporary feminist theory has been profoundly shaped by two important intellectual streams: psychoanalytic approaches to gender and subjectivity, and intersectional analyses of power and discrimination. This seminar explores these key developments through two thematic blocks, with students working in four thematic groups (A-D) to investigate specific theoretical approaches and their contemporary applications in depth.
In Block 1, we examine Psychoanalytic and French Feminism. The first section focuses on classical psychoanalytic perspectives, starting with Jessica Benjamin's "The Bonds of Love," which revolutionizes our understanding of domination and submission through her theory of mutual recognition and intersubjectivity in gender development. Nancy Chodorow's "The Reproduction of Mothering" presents her groundbreaking analysis of how mothering is reproduced across generations, arguing that women's mothering plays a decisive role in the development of gendered personalities and the perpetuation of male dominance. These works continue to influence contemporary psychotherapy and social theory. The second section covers French Feminist Theory, featuring Julia Kristeva's "Powers of Horror," which introduces the concept of abjection and its role in identity formation and social exclusion, and Luce Irigaray's "This Sex Which Is Not One," which critiques the masculine bias in psychoanalytic theory and proposes a feminine subjectivity that escapes masculine logic and language.
Block 2 addresses Intersectional and Postcolonial Feminism. We begin with Intersectional Theory and Practice, studying Kimberlé Crenshaw's "Mapping the Margins," which introduces the foundational concept of intersectionality, demonstrating how race, gender, and other social categories interact to shape experiences of discrimination and privilege. Nanette Funk's selected writings contribute crucial perspectives on feminist critique in post-socialist contexts, highlighting the importance of considering historical and geographical specificities in feminist theory. These theoretical frameworks continue to inform contemporary social movements and activism. The course concludes with Postcolonial Feminist Perspectives, featuring works by Nikita Dhawan ("Impossible Speech"), and Sabine Hark ("Dissidente Partizipation"), connecting these theories to contemporary global feminist issues.
Teaching Methods and Timeline:
Introduction Phase (Weeks 1-2):
• Week 1: Overview of major theoretical approaches / Introduction to key concepts and methodologies / Initial discussion of contemporary relevance
• Week 2: Formation of four working groups / Research methodology workshop / Group consultations / Setting expectations and deadlines
Block 1: Psychoanalytic and French Feminism (Weeks 3-8)
• Weeks 3-4: Theoretical foundations and text analysis / Weeks 5-6: Contemporary applications and case studies / Week 7: Group work and consultations / Week 8: Groups A & B presentations and discussions
Block 2: Intersectional and Postcolonial Feminism (Weeks 9-14)
• Weeks 9-10: Theoretical foundations and text analysis / Weeks 11-12: Contemporary applications and case studies / Week 13: Group work and consultations / Week 14: Groups C & D presentations and final synthesis
Unterrichtssprache(n): Englisch