Ecofeminist Theologies & Spiritualities Dr. Anne Daniell Spring 2021 Email: [email protected] RELS-V265 – 01 & -02 Office Hours by appointment
Dates of Course: January 20 – May 13 Location: Monroe Bobet 101 Class Meeting Time: MWF 1:30 – 2:20 (01) & 2:30 – 3:20 (02)
Terms of Use: A student's continued enrollment in this course signifies acknowledgment of, and agreement with, the statements, disclaimers, policies, and procedures outlined in this syllabus and in the Canvas environment. This syllabus is a dynamic document. Elements of the course (e.g., dates & topics covered, but not policies) may be changed at the discretion of the professor.
Most synchronous students will come to one (1) in-person lecture per week and attend the other lecture synchronously via Zoom. Group A will come to class in person on Mondays; Group B on Wednesdays. Everyone will participate in either in-person, online synchronous, or Canvas discussions on (most) Fridays. Students not on campus this semester (online-only) will access both lectures online and will participate in Friday discussions sometimes via Zoom and sometimes by posting on Canvas. (See Discussion Fridays.)
Course Overview: This course introduces students to the ecofeminist and ecowomanist movements of the mid-late twentieth century to the present day, examining how they’ve influenced constructive theology. The course looks at the ecofeminist claim that patriarchal institutions and “other worldly” concepts of the divine mutually reinforce one another, maintaining a hierarchical worldview that subjugates both women and nature. After key writings at the intersection of ecofeminism and theological studies, the course proceeds with perspectives from a diversity of social locations. The course concludes with a brief discussion of how non- binary identities pose challenges to some of the initial assumptions of ecofeminism.
Course Learning Objectives: After becoming familiar with the historical progression of the feminist movement in the United States, students will learn how certain ideas within feminism and environmentalism have coalesced to create ecofeminism. Students will then be exposed to how various types of ecofeminism and ecowomanism have shaped contemporary theological studies. Students will assess whether different images and concepts of the divine function to connect or disconnect people from an ecological worldview, hence promoting or discouraging ecological ways of living.
Expectations of Workload
According to Loyola University’s Credit Hour Policy http://academicaffairs.loyno.edu/credit- hour-policy, students should spend approximately 6,300 minutes (105 hours) per 3-credit course. For this course, that translates to 100 minutes each week in the classroom (two 50-minute lectures); 50 minutes each week (Fridays) in small-group discussion or completing the Canvas Discussion, and 300 minutes (5 hours) each week in class preparation (reading; listening; doing written assignments). While preparation-study time will vary from student to student, the indicated 5 hours (300 minutes) of course-engagement time per week will help you to assess whether you are spending sufficient time engaged in work for this course. Your quiz, exam, and discussion grades are likely to reflect the amount of time you put into the class.
Skills and Competencies for Successful Completion of Assignments
As a hybrid/hyflex course, a substantial amount of coursework will require online attendance or online work. Thus, students must have basic computer and Canvas skills to successfully complete this class. For example, students must be able to access course announcements, assignments, grades, and feedback on Canvas. For help with Canvas, visit the Canvas Student Guide page and Canvas video tutorials, or contact Loyola's Online Learning Team (OLT) by sending an email to [email protected].
Assigned Materials
All assigned materials (readings, videos, quizzes, tests, etc.) will be found on Canvas. As a general rule, assigned readings, videos, etc. should be completed before coming to class on the date for which they are listed on the syllabus. You will have a much easier time understanding lecture materials and you will be better prepared to participate in discussions and ask relevant questions if you have engaged with the assigned materials before coming to class. You will be much better prepared for quizzes and exams if you keep up with assigned materials.
Instructor’s Feedback Plan on Assignments
Assignments, tests & quizzes will be graded 1 – 2 weeks after submission. If, after two weeks, you have not seen your grade, feel free to email the professor to inquire about your grade.
Discussion Fridays: Fridays are reserved for in-person or synchronous on-line (“live”) discussions and/or for posting on the Canvas Discussion board. On a few Fridays there will be quizzes and tests on Canvas. Friday participation is required. On those Fridays when you are not assigned to take part in an in-person or Zoom discussion, you are still required to take part in Canvas Discussion board. All students are required to participate in at least 5 discussion boards, and students will choose which discussion boards to participate in. Most students will end up taking part in 3 in-person or live synchronous discussions, and they will post in 5 discussion boards, for a total of 8 discussions. However, non-synchronous students are required to do all 8 discussion boards. On any Friday when you are not taking part in a discussion board or a live Zoom discussion, and you are not doing a quiz or test, you are still required to read and study the assigned materials, since they will be tested on in the midterm, quizzes and final exams.
Discussion prompts will appear on Canvas no later than class-time Friday (usually by Thursday evening), and student posts are due by Sunday at the end of the day (11:59 PM). Canvas discussion posts should be proofread and edited for full points. A ½ point will be deducted for each day that a post is late. Do not wait until the last minute to take part in discussion posts.
Grading Policy
A A- B+ B B- C+ C C- D+ D F
94 - 90- 87 - 83 - 80 - 77 - 73 - 70 - 67 - 60 - 0 - 100 93 89 86 82 79 76 72 69 66 59
Assessment Categories Weeks/Days due Percentage
*Participation 35% total
small-group discussions & ongoing 24% participation in Canvas Discussion Board. 8 discussions @ 3 pts. each:
--3 in-person or online “live” --5 Canvas discussion posts
Intro. statement due: Fri. 1/22 4%
Presentation: short presentations to due: Sat. 2/19, 11:59 PM 7% be turned in and then shared with
the class; professor will ask a few presentation dates: students to talk about their presentations in class. Mon. 2/22 & Wed. 2/24
Attendance ongoing Excellent attendance works to your Will typically be taken at the benefit if you have a border-line beginning of class. final grade.
Quizzes & Exams 65% total
Quiz 1 (Syllabus) due: Sun. 1/24 11:59 PM 5%
Midterm due: Sun. 2/28 11:59 PM 20%
Quiz 2 due: Sun. 3/28 11:59 PM 15%
Final Exam - Cumulative Finals Week 25%
TOTAL 100%
Course Schedule
Class 1 Introduction & Syllabus – Group B in person Wed. 1/20
Class 2 Quiz 1 – on Syllabus/Requirements (5 pts.) – Canvas Fri. 1/22 Due: end of day Sunday (up to two attempts) Introductory Paragraph (4 pts.) due @ end-of-day Friday
Class 3 Lecture 1 – Group A in person Mon. 1/25 Feminism & an ecological worldview, part 1 Ynestra King, “The Ecology of Feminism & the Feminism of Ecology” read: 1st ½ of article.
Class 4 Lecture 2 – Group B in person Wed. 1/27 Feminism & an ecological worldview, part 2 Ynestra King, “The Ecology of Feminism & the Feminism of Ecology” read: 2nd ½ of article; Susan Griffin, “Women and Nature” (excerpt)
Class 5 1st small-group OR Canvas Discussion – Group A Fri. 1/29 on Susan Griffin, “Women and Nature” (excerpt)
Class 6 Lecture 3 – Group A in person Mon. 2/1 Sherry Ortner theory, part 1: “Is Female to Male as Nature is to Culture?”
Class 7 Lecture 4 – Group B in person
Wed. 2/3 Sherry Ortner theory, part 2: “Is Female to Male as Nature is to Culture?”
*discussion of topics for short presentations; make choice by 2/8
Class 8 2nd small-group OR Canvas Discussion – Group B Fri. 2/5 on Sherry Ortner theory & Susan Griffin excerpt
Class 9 Lecture 5 – Group A in person Mon. 2/8 History of U.S. Feminism (overview) US Feminism “waves”; Waves of Feminism; “The Personal is Political” *choose topic for short presentation – due 2/19
Class 10 Lecture 6 – Group B in person Wed. 2/10 Combahee River Collective; Audre Lorde excerpt
Class 11 3rd small-group OR Canvas Discussion – online students for live discussion Fri. 2/12 on Audre Lorde excerpt & Combahee River Collective
Class 12 TBD: If we have class; all will attend via Zoom. Mon. 2/15 kinds/types of feminism, part 1
Tues. 2/16 Mardi Gras – Holiday Class 13 Lecture 7 – Group B in person Wed. 2/17 kinds/types of feminism, part 2; Kimberle Crenshaw on intersectionality
Class 14 4th small-group or Canvas Discussion – Group A Fri. 2/19 on A. Walker’s Womanism & Delores Williams Youtube
Class 15 Lecture 8 – Group A in person–Early Ecofeminist Activism (anti-militarism) Mon. 2/22 Inspirational Activists: Ecofeminism & the Peace Movement *Go over submitted student presentations. *Presentation topics: Petra Kelly; Women’s Pentagon Action protest Grace Paley; Greenham Common; Women and Life on Earth (other topics ok; need to get approved)
Class 16 Lecture 9 – Group B in person – Go over submitted presentations. Wed. 2/24 Inspirational Activists: *Go over submitted student presentations. *Presentation topics: Vandana Shiva (and Chipko); Wangari Maathai Winona LaDuke; Alice Walker; Rachel Carson (other topics ok; need to get approved)
Class 17 Test/Midterm on Canvas Fri. 2/26 2 attempts; due by end of day Sunday, 2/28
Class 18 Lecture 10 – Group A in person Mon. 3/1 Beginnings of Feminist Theology/Thealogy, pt. 1 Nelle Morton, “Preaching the Word” Alice Walker, excerpt from The Color Purple
Class 19 Lecture 11— Group B in person Wed. 3/3 Beginnings of Feminist Theology/Thealogy, pt. 2 Mary Daly, “Exodus Community” & (possibly) another excerpt
Class 20 5th small-group OR Canvas Discussion – Group B Fri. 3/5 excerpt from Rosemary Radford Ruether, New Woman/New Earth
Class 21 Lecture 12 – Group A in person Mon. 3/8 Feminist Thealogy (goddess feminism) Carol Christ, “Why Women Need the Goddess”
Class 22 Lecture 13 – Group B in person Wed. 3/10 Riane Eisler excerpt -- goddesses & goddess religion/spirituality
Class 23 6th small-group OR Canvas Discussion – online students for live discussion Fri. 3/12 on Carol Christ & Riane Eisler articles
Class 24 Lecture 14 – Group A in person Mon. 3/15 Exegesis & Hermeneutics—feminist & ecological implications, part 1 Genesis 1 & Phyllis Trible article 1; exegesis & hermeneutics document Class 25 Lecture 15 – Group B in person Wed. 3/17 Exegesis & Hermeneutics—feminist & ecological implications, part 2 Genesis 2 & Phyllis Trible article 2
Class 26 7th small-group OR Canvas Discussion – Group A Fri. 3/19 Judith Plaskow, “The Coming of Lilith”
Class 27 Lecture 16 – Group A in person Mon. 3/22 Hagar Story – Latin American feminist liberation theology Elsa Tamez, “The Woman Who Complicated History”
Class 28 Lecture 17 – Group B in person Wed. 3/24 Hagar Story – Womanist hermeneutics Renita Weems, Diversity in Interpretation (article) Renita Weems, A Mistress, A Maid, and No Mercy (chapter)
Class 29 QUIZ 2: feminist (womanist, Latin American, etc.) hermeneutics Fri. 3/26 Due by end of day Sunday 3/28 (11:59 PM) (2 attempts)
Class 30 Lecture 18 – Group A in person Mon. 3/29 Ecofeminist Theology: Divine Source Elizabeth Johnson excerpt; Nicene Creed
Class 31 Lecture 19 –Group B in person Wed. 3/31 Ecofeminist Theology: Divine Wisdom (Sophia), part 1
Fri. 4/2 Good Friday Holiday – No class
Class 32 Lecture 20 – Group B in person Mon. 4/5 Ecofeminist Theology: Divine Wisdom (Sophia), part 2
Class 33 Lecture 21 – Group B in person Wed. 4/7 Renita Weems, Certain Women (on Jesus’ women disciples) Communitarian Christology of Ivone Gebara
Class 34 8th small-group OR Canvas Discussion – Group B Fri. 4/9 on Renita Weems & Ivone Gebara materials (see above)
Class 35 Lecture 22 – Group A in person Mon. 4/12 Ecofeminist Theology: Divine Spirit, part 1 Karen Baker-Fletcher, Sisters of Dust, Sisters of Spirit (excerpts)
Class 36 Lecture 23 –Group B in person Wed. 4/14 Ecofeminist Theology: Divine Spirit, part 2 Chung Hyun-Kyung, “Listen to the Spirit: Hear her Cries”
Class 37 9th small-group OR Canvas Discussion–online students for live discussion Fri. 4/16 Chung Hyun-Kyung, “Listen to the Spirit: Hear her Cries” (see above) Karen Baker-Fletcher, Sisters of Dust, Sisters of Spirit (see above)
Class 38 Lecture 24 – Group A in person Mon. 4/19 Ecofeminist trinitarian theology (finish theology section)
Class 39 Lecture 25 – Group B in person Wed. 4/21 Environmental Justice & Ecofeminism, part 1 watch: EnviroJustice primers: ProPublica Youtube Grist Youtube) read: Melanie L. Harris, Teaching Toward Ecojustice watch: Interview with Melanie L. Harris (Youtube - approx. 15 min.)
Class 40 10th Canvas Discussion – All on Canvas Fri. 4/23 on Melanie Harris on Environmental Justice (see materials above)
Class 41 Lecture 26 – Group A in person Mon. 4/26 Environmental pollution, Enviro. Justice & breast cancer Terry Tempest Williams, “Clan of One-Breasted Women” (short essay)
Class 42 Lecture 27 – Group B in person Wed. 4/28 Global South & Indigenous Women – Environmental Issues Women and the Environment from textbook Women in the World Madre delegation meets in Fort Berthold, North Dakota (International Indigenous Women’s delegation – 10 min. Youtube)
Class 43 11th Canvas Discussion – All on Canvas Fri. 4/30 on Terry Tempest Williams’ “Clan of One-Breasted Women” & indigenous women materials (see Wednesday’s assignment)
Class 44 Lecture 28 – Group A in person Mon. 5/3 Ecofeminism & Queer Theory (part 1) Excerpt from Catriona Sandilands’ article
Class 45 Lecture 29 –Group B in person Wed. 5/5 Ecofeminism & Queer Theory (part 2) and/or finish up any final materials from past lectures
Tues. May 11 Final Exam (cumulative) – 2 attempts Due by end of the day Tuesday (11:59 PM) on Canvas.
Course Policies Attendance Policy and Participation Expectations
Class attendance is regarded as an obligation and a privilege. Students are expected to show up in the classroom on the days they are assigned to be there. On the other days, students are required to access the course virtually, either in real-time or (for those taking the class asynchronously) once the recorded lecture is posted on Canvas.
Class lectures build upon one another. Students are likely to fall behind if they do not keep up with attending all of the lectures (whether in person or online) and participating in Canvas Discussions.
Students are required to check their my.loyno.edu email regularly for important class announcements and other university related notifications. Please also check announcements on Canvas daily or at least every other day.
Online Communication Expectation -- Communication expectations for Discussion Board
• Be original. Your ideas should be your own. When you share or comment upon an idea from someone else, you must cite your source(s). A simple, in-text citation is fine. Professor will provide an example on how to do this on Canvas Discussions. • Be aware of the university's policies on Academic Honesty and Plagiarism, as well as The Student Code of Conduct. • Be respectful and open-minded. Use language that is polite and non-offensive. • Be professional. Check spelling and grammar before posting. • Check with your professor if you have any questions.
Late Submissions and Make-Up Policy
Assignments—tests and discussion posts—should be completed on time and according to instructions. In-class, on-line and Canvas Discussions, in addition to quizzes and tests, ARE your Friday class. Although discussion posts do not have to be completed by the end of your regular class-time on Friday (you typically have until the end of the day, Sunday), you are still strongly advised to set aside ample time to write, proofread, and revise your post before it is due. A half-point will be taken off for each day a discussion post is late. Since the discussion posts are only worth 3 points each, it does not make sense to post them after they are a day or two late.
No make-up tests will be given except under highly extenuating circumstances. An ample amount of time is already allotted for you to take the exam, and you are allowed 2 attempts for each exam. Documentation (such as a doctor’s note) will be required should an illness, hospitalization, or other serious event make it impossible for you to submit your exams and quizzes on time.
Note: University Administrative Withdrawal policy: Students who do not participate on Canvas within a certain time-frame will be administratively withdrawn from the course. Make sure to participate in the Introduction post & Quiz 1 so that this does not happen to you.
Minimum Technology Requirements
It is your responsibility to learn how to navigate Canvas. You should use your own secure login and password for Canvas to complete all coursework and assignments, on an individual basis. Check Canvas daily, or at least every other day, for updates and announcements. For Canvas help, visit Canvas Student Guide page, or Canvas video tutorials for students, or contact Loyola's Online Learning Team (OLT) by sending an email to [email protected].
You are responsible to make sure your computer and internet connection are in working order. Check the connection and functionality of your computer before you begin working on assignments, quizzes, exams, etc.
Data Management and Privacy
Save your Discussion posts to a google doc., Word doc., or the like before posting them to Canvas. That way, if there is any kind of computer or Canvas glitch, you still have another copy of your work. Please refer to the following university website for more details about Data Management and Privacy: http://researchguides.loyno.edu/c.php?g=534314&p=3654468