Shannon Winnubst Office Hours

Shannon Winnubst Office Hours: UH 286N; ext. 3915 Tuesdays 3-5 [email protected] Also by appointment Twitter: @swinnubst

Senior Seminar Contemporary Issues in Feminist Theory “Neoliberalism and Before” WGSS 4575 Autumn 2014

Course Description Post-feminism, post-racial, diversity, color blindness, multiculturalism, multiracialism, same-sex marriage, the Prison Industrial Complex, entrepreneurial spirit, erosion of the public sphere, and so on! What do these terms and their various cognates have to do with one another? In this course, we will explore the meanings of “neoliberalism” in an effort to understand how longstanding feminist categories of social difference (race, class, gender, sexuality, nation, dis/ability) are transforming in the contemporary United States. We will then return to voices of feminists of color from the 1970s/early 1980s to explore possible resources for fresh resistance. Finally, you will embark on your own research for the final essay of the seminar.

Warning: This is a senior seminar, so there is a lot going on in this course. Please take the time to read through this syllabus carefully.

Required Texts: Angela Davis: The Meaning of Freedom and Other Difficult Dialogues (City Lights Books: 2012) Lisa Duggan: Twilight of Equality: Neoliberalism, Cultural Policy, and the Attack on Democracy (Beacon: 2004) Dean Spade: Normal Life: Administrative Violence, Critical Trans Politics, and the Limits of Law (South End Press: 2011) Shannon Sullivan: Good White People: The Problem with Middle-Class White Anti-Racism (SUNY: 2014) readings posted on Carmen/Buckeye Box

Course Requirements: Class Participation & Attendance -- 15% This class will be as rich and challenging as each of you makes it. Although large, I intend to run it as a seminar, which means thoughtful participation is essential. While participation does not require that you speak at every meeting, it does require attentiveness, familiarity with the text, respect for the opinion of others, willingness to ask questions, ability to listen to and engage other students, and willingness to share your views with the class. I expect every student to be fully prepared to participate in our discussions at every class meeting. If you struggle with participation, please see me early in the semester; and always feel free to ask about how your participation grade is going. Finally, attendance is the condition on which participation depends, so I expect regular attendance; more than two unexcused accents will result in a deterioration of your participation grade. In addition to class attendance, I also require that you attend at least two of the events listed on the syllabus below. Please turn in a one-page reflection within a week following the event. Failure to do so will reduce your participation half a letter grade. Essay #1 -- 15% I will distribute a prompt for this beautifully written 3-5 pages on our early readings on neoliberalism. (see schedule below)

Essay #2 -- 20% I will distribute 3 possible prompts for this beautifully written 4-6 pages on the implications of neoliberalism on trans* politics, the law, rights-based politics, racism, anti-racism, and representations of disability. (see schedule below)

Group Presentation -- 10% For the latter part of the course, groups of 5 students will choose a feminist of color from the 1970’s/early 1980’s to present to the course. I will distribute a bibliography to provide some resources, but also encourage further research. To prepare for the presentation, please read extensively (e.g., the entire book or anthology) and choose one essay (or poem or lecture or…) to assign to the class; please email it to me to post on Carmen one week prior to day of discussion. On the day of the presentation, the group will lead the discussion. I encourage creativity!

Final Essay -- 25% Women’s Studies 4575 requires completion of a Final Essay, 8-10 pages, which is due on December 5th, as scheduled by the university (see schedule below). If you would like to have your paper returned, please hand-in two copies and a stamped, self-addressed envelope. This is the major work of this Capstone Seminar; therefore, several other assignments connected to it are also structured into the work of the semester: 1) Proposal -- 2.5% The essay has no assigned topic. To get an early start, you must submit a 2 page proposal for your topic on October 31st. This is an all/nothing deadline: no late proposals accepted. 2) Annotated Bibliography -- 7.5% The final essay must include a bibliography of no fewer than 6 items (books, journal articles or essays/chapters). However, to ensure a wide range of research, you must write an annotated bibliography of at least 8 items that is due November 14th. I will distribute guidelines as the due- date approaches. You may use sources from our class readings, but at least five sources must be materials outside our reading list. Any sources drawn exclusively from the web must be cleared with me before they may be included on the bibliography. 3) Draft and Peer-Editing -- 5% [total] A draft of your final essay is due in class December 3rd. Please bring three copies. December 3rd and 5th, we will have writing workshops on the peer-edited drafts. This is an all/nothing deadline: no late drafts and no tardy or poor quality peer edits accepted.

Grading: Overall grades will be based on the quality of your written assignments and the constructive nature of your class participation. The essays will be graded according to (a) the clarity of your argument, (b) your use of evidence to support your argument, (c) the relevance and insight of your question(s), and (d) the accuracy of grammar, syntax and spelling. All assignments are due at the time/day noted on the schedule. Late papers will be penalized 5 points (half a letter-grade) per day, including weekend days. Papers are not accepted via email. Grading Scale: A+ = 98-100 A = 94-97 A- = 90-93 B+ = 87-89 B = 84-86 B- = 80-83 C+ = 77-79 C = 74-76 C- = 70-73 D+ = 67-69 D = 64-66 E = 63 and below Academic Integrity: It is the responsibility of the Committee on Academic Misconduct to investigate or establish procedures for the investigation of all reported cases of student academic misconduct. The term "academic misconduct" includes all forms of student academic misconduct wherever committed; illustrated by, but not limited to, cases of plagiarism and dishonest practices in connection with examinations and essays. Instructors shall report all instances of alleged academic misconduct to the committee (Faculty Rule 3335-5-487). For additional information, see the Code of Student Conduct at studentaffairs.osu.edu/resource_csc.asp

Course Access & Accommodation: We all learn and process information in different ways and I would like to make this course as accessible as possible. If there is something I can do to facilitate your learning in this class, please communicate this to me. I will do my best to address your needs. If you have documentation from the Office for Disability Services (150 Pomerene Hall, 1760 Neil Avenue; telephone 292-3307, TDD 292-0901; http://www.ods.ohio-state.edu/.) for specific accommodations, please let me know in advance of your needs. With or without documentation, we can also meet in person or communicate via email about how to improve your access to the course.

Schedule of Readings and Assignments: August 27 - What is happening to social difference today!?!? And what is “neoliberalism?”

28 - Michael Brown/Ferguson Teach-In WGSS Faculty and Graduate Students MLK Lounge, Hale Black Cultural Center 12-2

29 - Davis, The Meaning of Freedom: essays 12 and 7

September 3 - Foucault, The Birth of Biopolitics: Lecture 10 5 - Duggan, Twilight of Equality: Introduction and Chapter 1

10 - Duggan, Twilight of Equality: Chapter 2

11 - “Bad Romance, or Heterosexuality” Lecture by Sandra Macpherson, Wexner Theater, 4:30

“Remembering 9/11 and Honoring Civil Rights Struggles” DISCO Reception, 1130 Thompson Library, 3:30 12 - Duggan, Twilight of Equality: Chapter 3 Question for Essay #1 distributed in class

12/13 - Black Girls: The Silent Crisis Symposium, AAAS Extension Center

16 - Essay #1 DUE in my box in 286 UH by 5 pm

16 - An Evening with Laverne Cox OSU Fawcett Center, 7 pm

17 - Davis, The Meaning of Freedom: 7, 8, 10 19 - Spade, Normal Life: Preface & Introduction

24 - Spade: Chapters 1 & 2 26 - class canceled

29 - “Making Sense of Intersex: Reflective Scrutiny, Remorse, and Repair” Lecture by Ellen Feder, 100 Mendenhall, 4:30

October 1 - Spade: Chapters 3 & 4 3 - Davis: 2, 3, 4, 8, 9

8 - Kafer: “A Future for Whom? Passing on Billboard Liberation” 10 - Sullivan, Good White People: Chapter 1

14 - Title, TBD Lecture by Treva Lindsay, 12 noon, 311 Denney

15 - Sullivan: Chapter 3 Questions for Essay #2 distributed in class 17 - Davis: 1 Spade: 5 & Conclusion

22 - general discussion 24 - class canceled: library session **Essay #2 DUE in my box in 286 UH by 4 pm

29 - group presentations: essay by ______31 - group presentations: essay by ______** Final Paper Proposal DUE November 5 - Readings from Race-ing Justice, En-gendering Power -- TBD

6 - Screening of ANITA: Speaking Truth to Power, with Q&A with Director Freida Mock and Anita Hill Mershon Auditorium, 7 pm 7 - Panel, “Responding to Gendered Violence in Society, Law and on College Campuses” Anita Hill, Martha Chamallas, Katie Hanna, Gisell Jeter Saxbe Auditorium, 11

7 - group presentations: essay by ______

12 - group presentations: essay by ______14 - class canceled: Annotated Bibliography DUE

19 - group presentations: essay by ______21 - group presentations: essay by ______

THANKSGIVING BREAK

December 3 - peer editing Draft DUE in class: 3 copies 5 - peer editing

Final Paper DUE 12. December, 12 p.m. (noon) in my box in 286 University Hall. This date is scheduled by the university. No late or electronic papers accepted.