Dr. Molly Kerby

Classes     

Classes I teach (see Study Abroad opportunities also)

Women's Studies - WOMN 200

This class will explore what it means to be female in American culture. Even though it is not always obvious, gender plays an important role in every aspect of our daily lives. This class will attempt to raise the consciousness of the student in the areas of the social construction of gender, the historical framework for analyzing women's lives, the issues of "today" women's , and the future of women in our society. We will delve into what the term "gender equality" means and examine the cultural, political, and economic landscape on which these conception of equality were built.  Personal Note: This class is designed to include the responses and participation of both male and female students.  Women's Studies is not designed to exclude or marginalize any group of people and this instructor will NOT discriminate against anyone based on gender, religion, political stance, disability, sexual orientation, or race/ethnicity.
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Syllabus
Selected Bibliography

In this course we will explore the categories of thought and revolutionary developments that have affected society’s attitudes about women and more broadly, about gender.  The course will be two-tiered, including both an analysis of theory and a semester long application (practice) of community/civic engagement that relates to the theories discussed.  To address the first tier, class readings and discussions will be used to examine and categorize feminist theory, which will include an indepth look at ontological, epistemological and political thought from both a classical and contemporary stance.  The second tier will incorporate both individual and group activities that will allow students to put theory into action through community volunteerism, investigative research, and/or grassroots political involvement. 

Global and Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Women (WOMN 555)

The readings offer feminist perspectives on a range of national and international issues affecting all people, with an emphasis on the realities women face. The first half of the semester (or maybe a little more) will be devoted to readings and issues that are current in global cultures. Given the “war on terrorism” and our environmental crisis, the first five books on the list above will ground the course in contemporary global issues.
Narayan’s important (though dense) critique about cultural assumptions and how cultural analysis is often done in misguided ways is a great way to begin.  Then we will move to Women Working the NAFTA Food Chain and Earth Democracy for an indepth look at the global impact of capitalism and food production in terms of gender.  The next section will deal with women and militarism and the impact of the global war on terror.  The last three books, though unrelated, explores religion, race, queer theory, and even gay “Bollywood.”
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Syllabus

WOMN 545: Feminist Knowledge and Social Change

WOMN 545: Feminist Knowledge and Social Change is an examination of both feminist knowledge and research as political practices with the goal of improving the lives of women and challenging rigid configurations of race, class, gender, and other elements of difference. Our readings are grounded in a critique of the ideas, politics, and policies that have defined Western, and particularly, U.S. culture. As such the material is often challenging, though the critiques are not new. Out texts and other readings will explore feminist challenges to social order is an inherently optimistic. In other words, fighting for positive change is worth it. All the writers/activists we will study believe this passionately, though they take their positions and “arm” themselves differently. Whether it’s the writers themselves or the people in the films, they inspire us to use our feminist knowledge to make our own social change.
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WOMN 524: Feminist Pedagogies

WOMN 524: Feminist Pedagogies will examine theoretical writings on feminist pedagogy and also address practical issues related to teaching Women’s Studies.  Participants will develop familiarity with feminist pedagogies and their significance for the field of Women’s Studies as well as (a) interpret their own educational experiences within the context of feminist reflections on education, (b) formulate their own philosophies of education, and (c) develop and test pedagogical strategies for developing critical consciousness about social inequalities.
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Syllabus

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