Class is canceled today, Wednesday 11/7.
Please have both sets of poems read for Monday(see previous post). And don’t forget that you must have the novel in your possession next week.
Sorry for any inconvenience this cancelation may cause.
SP
Poems Posted!
Did you buy your book yet?
We will be starting the novel Soledad written by Angie Cruz, in two weeks. If you have not yet purchased it, now is the time to do it. There will be NO EXCUSES for not having the book, and the first reading done on 11/14. You have had since the beginning of the semester to purchase the book and I am giving you a two week warning now– BUY THE BOOK NOW.
PS- Reading for tomorrow: “Night Women” by Edwidge Danticat.
Essay #1 Proposals
Good Morning,
If you emailed me your proposal, instead of handing it in at the beginning of class (as stated on the assignment sheet), be sure to bring a printed copy to class today. I do not accept assignments via email.
I will accept late proposals (either emailed or just not handed in on time)–just be aware that you will lose some points for being late, and you will have to wait a bit longer to get feedback.
I do STRONGLY encourage you to submit a proposal before writing your paper, as I have given a lot of feedback on the proposals I received last week (which I will be returning in class today). I also have office hours Wednesday from 1-2pm for students who would like to talk about their paper proposal in person.
SP
**Don’t forget the reading for today!
Sexual Assault Twitter Thread
This is easily the best explanation I’ve read of why women feel the way they do regarding sexual assault.
Thinking About Manifestos: The Personal is Political (Hanisch)
Thinking about the reading…
- What is the debate Hanisch describes as “personal vs. political” actually about?
- Why does she have a problem with the labels “therapy” and “personal”?
- What does she have to say about “collective” actions and solutions? How do you understand this in the context of her writing this piece alone (as in, not written by a group of some sort)?
- What does the term “liberated woman” mean to Hanisch?
- Is this text theory? Why or why not?
- What are the major areas of discussion/complaint in this text?
- Is there a “call to action” in the text? If so, what is it? Is this an important part of the text?
- What do you think is the most powerful line (or lines) in the text?
Beyond the reading…
- This was written in the same historical moment as the “Redstockings Manifesto.” Are they concerned with the same things? Are there indicators that they come out of the same historical context? Do you think the authors would agree with each other?
- Would you classify this as a Manifesto? Why or why not?
- How does this text compare to “The Declaration of Sentiments and Reasons” by Elizabeth Cady Stanton? How does it compare to the “Redstockings Manifesto”?
- In January 2006, the author wrote an “Introduction” to this piece that gives some background information and context. Does reading the introduction change our understanding of the original text? Does it matter if it does? Why wait until 2006 to write this follow-up?
Thinking About Manifestos: Redstockings Manifesto
Thinking about the reading…
- Why the focus on the individual and the collective in this piece? What is it trying to say about these concepts?
- Thinking about our discussion of how power operates in relation to privilege and oppression, what do you think of the line in the fourth (IV) section: “any man is free to renounce his superior position, provided that he is willing to be treated like a woman by other men”?
- What does it mean to develop consciousness, generally? What does it mean in this specific context? (Mentioned in section five (V))
- What are the major areas of discussion/complaint in this text?
- Is there a “call to action” in the text? If so, what is it? Is this an important part of the text?
- What do you think is the most powerful line (or lines) in the text?
Beyond the reading…
- Who is/are Redstockings? Does knowing this help to understand the text?
- This was written in July 1969– at the height of much political upheaval and protest. What was going on at this time? How did the political climate influence this writing? Do you think such a document could be produced outside of this context?
- In the third (III) section, it says “All men receive economic, sexual, and psychological benefits from male supremacy. All men have oppressed women.” How does this fit with the current/recent #NotAllMen hashtag and debate? (A quick lesson on #NotAllMen, for those who are unfamiliar.)
- Would you classify this as a Manifesto? Why or why not?
- How does this text compare to “The Declaration of Sentiments and Reasons” by Elizabeth Cady Stanton?
Thinking About Current Events: Serena Williams
Did you hear about what happened at the US Open (tennis) Women’s Final Match between Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka?
Let me know what you think!
(This is not required reading.)
Thinking About Manifestos: “Feminist Manifesto” (Loy)
Thinking about the reading…
**Be sure to look up the words you are unfamiliar with.
- How do the first two lines (“The feminist movement as at present instituted is/Inadequate“) set the tone for the rest of the reading?
- Would you classify this as an essay or a poem? Why? Does it matter?
- Why are certain words underlined, capitalized, and written in a larger font?
- Why is the form of this text important?
- In the fourth stanza (paragraph), Loy writes that men and women are enemies. How do you understand this– are they literal enemies, theoretical enemies, etc? What do you think of this idea– both when the text was written in 1914, and today, over 100 years later?
- What are the major areas of discussion/complaint in this text?
- Is there a “call to action” in the text? If so, what is it? Is this an important part of the text?
- What do you think is the most powerful line (or lines) in the text?
Beyond the reading…
- Would you classify this as a Manifesto? Why or why not?
- How does this text compare to “The Declaration of Sentiments and Reasons” by Elizabeth Cady Stanton?
Thinking About Manifestos: “The Declaration of Sentiments and Reasons” (Stanton)
Thinking about the reading…
- Does the format of this document remind you of any other famous documents? (Hint: look at the second paragraph)
- There is a series of short paragraphs that all begin with “He has”– what is the purpose of this series? Why do they (almost) all start in the same way?
- What are the major areas of discussion/complaint according to the women who composed the text?
- Does this document address the idea that women are treated as a minority, even though they are not technically one?
- Is there a “call to action” in the text? If so, what is it? Is this an important part of the text?
- What do you think is the most powerful sentence in the text?
Beyond the reading…
- This document is thought of as one of the biggest steps women took towards gaining suffrage. Do you see this document as accomplishing its purpose?
- Why is a historical document relevant to a class on Women Writers?
- Why is this the first text we are reading in this class?
