Module manager: Beth Elkington
Email: B.Elkington@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable
Year running 2024/25
| PHIL3700 | Feminist Philosophy |
This module is not approved as an Elective
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 (and 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?
This module introduces students to central issues, arguments, and theories in feminist philosophy and will enable students to understand how these issues, arguments, and theories relate to one another, and to develop their own position on these issues.
On successful completion of this module, students will be able to:
Demonstrate advanced knowledge and understanding of issues in feminist philosophy
Demonstrate the ability to critically engage with and evaluate complex and varied material in feminist philosophy
Develop a critical and nuanced argument in essay form engaging with relevant material using their own independent critical skills and drawing on material from a range of relevant sources
Conduct independent research and to make appropriate use of supervision structures.
The module focuses on major areas in feminist philosophy such as the following:
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supervision | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Lectures | 14 | 1 | 14 |
| Seminars | 9 | 1 | 9 |
| Private study hours | 276 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 24 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 300 | ||
Outside of formal meetings, students should expect to spend their time in private study as follows:
Weekly reading and preparation for seminars: 9 x 10 = 90 hours
Research and preparation for essay: 98 hours
Essay writing (including drafts and revisions): 88 hours
Formative feedback will be given:
In nine hour-long seminars, shared with students on the UG module, where the tutorial leader will respond to student questions and support understanding based on the module content and readings.
In a one-to-one supervision where the module leader will comment and provide guidance and feedback on student essay plans of length 1000 words.
In office hours offered by the module leader and tutorial leader (if these are different).
Student progress will be monitored through submission of a 5,000 word essay submitted at the end of the semester, on which feedback will be provided.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Essay | 5000 words | 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