Module manager: Heather Logue
Email: H.A.Logue@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable
Year running 2026/27
| PHIL3700 | Feminist Philosophy |
This module is not approved as a discovery module
This module will cover a selection of key topics in feminist philosophy from across the range of philosophical subfields. These include topics in metaphysics (e.g., what is it to be a woman, or any other gender?), epistemology (e.g., what does it mean to “believe women” who accuse others of sexual assault?), philosophy of language (e.g., can oppressive conditions make it the case that “no” doesn’t mean no anymore?), ethics (e.g., do women have a distinctive ethical framework oriented around caring for others?), political philosophy (e.g., does traditional political theorising overlook issues of justice within the family?), and aesthetics (e.g., does the concept of the “male gaze” help us to better understand artistic practices?). Please note this is an optional module and runs subject to enrolments. If a low number of students choose this module, then the module may not run and you may be asked to choose another module..
The aims of this module are to provide you with a critical understanding of some of the central issues in feminist philosophy, evaluate existing attempts to solve these problems, and present and defend your own views about how they should be solved.
These aims will be achieved through lectures (which will introduce you to key concepts, arguments, and theories), seminar preparation and participation (where you will critically analyse relevant texts, discuss the material with other students, and develop and defend your own opinions about the module topics), and supervision (in which the module leader will advise on how to develop your knowledge of and views about the module topics).
On successful completion of the module students will be able to:
1) Independently investigate, analyse, and critique some of the central problems, arguments, and theories in feminist philosophy.
2) Coherently connect different problems, arguments, and theories in feminist philosophy.
3) Develop and defend your own view on some of the issues studied through cogent and nuanced argumentation.
Skills Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will be able to:
4) Communicate ideas and understanding clearly and concisely, using appropriate academic language (Academic and Work Ready skill)
5) Apply theoretical understanding to real-world contexts (Work Ready, Enterprise and Sustainability skill).
The exact topics covered will vary from year to year, but the following is an indicative list of potential topics: oppression, objectification, the “male gaze”, intersectionality, the metaphysics of sex and gender, epistemic injustice, implicit bias, pornography, care ethics, gendered norms of appearance, adaptive preferences, the politics of work and family, and feminism and multiculturalism.
| 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 | ||
Each student is invited to complete ONE piece of formative work which will receive written feedback. Students are given a choice of an essay plan, exposition of an argument, or an objection and reply. Students should read and reflect on (i) the feedback they received in previous summative assessments, (ii) the PRHS marking criteria, and (iii) the specific guidance provided on the summative assessment in this module, and identify for themselves the type of formative feedback that will be most beneficial to them.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Essay | Essay | 100 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
Check the module area in Minerva for your reading list
Last updated: 30/04/2026
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team