Module manager: Beth Elkington
Email: B.Elkington@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable
Year running 2024/25
This module is not approved as an Elective
Because this module explores feminist philosophy we will cover issues throughout which are sensitive and could be potentially re-traumatising for some students. Examples of such topics are: gender oppression, sexual violence, abortion, and transphobia. If you are unsure whether this module is suitable for you, please contact the module leader for more details before choosing this module. Feminist philosophy is philosophy that is particularly relevant to women's lives-- it ranges over most subfields of philosophy, including metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, and aesthetics. This module will provide an in-depth introduction to some of the key debates in feminist philosophy. The precise module content will vary from year to year, but some of the issues covered may include: Are traditional gender roles fine as they are, or should we try to change them? (Can we change them?) Is pornography wrong because it involves treating women like objects? (Or is there nothing wrong with pornography?) Is society biased against women? For example, do we generally take women's testimony less seriously than men's? If so, what are the consequences, and what can we do about it? Is access to abortion required for women's equality? Is it morally permissible? What is the male gaze? Does the concept of the male gaze help us understand anything about artistic practices?
On completion of this module, students should be able to:
1. Show a good grasp of central issues, arguments, and theories in feminist philosophy and give clear and accurate exposition of leading philosophical treatments of such;
2. Show understanding of how these issues, arguments, and theories relate to one another;
3. Demonstrate the capacity to analyse arguments critically and develop their own position in relation to these issues.
The course will provide students with knowledge of leading philosophical work and philosophical arguments in feminist philosophy.
The module focuses on four major areas in feminist philosophy:
Theme 1: Theories of Gender
Theme 2: Objectification
Theme 3: Knowledge, Testimony, and Power
Theme 4: Bias: Implicit and Explicit
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 14 | 1 | 14 |
| Tutorial | 9 | 1 | 9 |
| Private study hours | 177 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 23 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200 | ||
Lecture Preparation and Follow Up: 40 hours
Tutorial Preparation: 60 hours
Discussion Board Preparation: 30 hours
Essay Preparation: 50 hours
Students will be given the opportunity to receive formative feedback on their understanding of and ideas about course materials in tutorials, and on essay plans of up to 1000 words.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Essay | 3000 words (end of module) | 100 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
The reading list is available from the Library website
Last updated: 1/22/2025
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team