Feminism and Ecology

(tentative syllabus)

                                             PS 434/534

Irene Diamond (Idiamond@oregon)                                             

This course examines the  intersections between feminism and environmentalism both in the United States and globally.    We consider the philosophical, historical, spiritual, scientific,  and political questions  that  have been raised  when the issue of the wellbeing of the  earth  is considered in relationship to  understandings of  women, gender,  nature, and the feminine...

                                             Schedule of Reading

I. Introduction: Studying Women, Nature, the  Environment and Ecology

Carolyn Merchant , earthcare  , introduction, pp.3-26,139-151

Ynestra King,  "Healing the Wounds" in Diamond and Orenstein eds.  Reweaving the World

recommended: Maria Mies and Vandana Shiva, Ecofeminism , pp.1-21,

Karen J. Warren, Ecofeminist Philosphy , chp.1

Rosemary Radford Reuther , New Woman/New Earth

II. Masculine consciousness, science and the denigration of women and nature : a poetic exploration    

Susan Griffin, Woman and Nature

recommended: Val Plumwood, Feminism and the Mastery of     Nature, chps. 1-3,

Elizabeth Carlassare, "Essentialism in Ecofeminist Discourse," in Carolyn Merchant, ed. Ecology

III      Science and the Rise of Capitalism

a. an overview                              

Merchant ,earthcare , chps2,4

recommended:  Carolyn Merchant, The  Death of Nature

           Donna Haraway,  Simians, Cyborgs, and Nature

b.  perspectives from India

Vandana  Shiva, Staying Alive

recommended: Bina Agarwal, "The Gender and Environment Debate: Lessons       From India"  Feminist Studies (Spring 1992)

IV.  Goddess Spirituality      

Starhawk, The Spiral Dance

recommended:  Kate Rigby, "The Goddess Returns" in Frances Devlin-Glass and Lyn McCredden eds. Feminist Poetics of the Sacred

V. The Language of Control    

     Irene Diamond, Fertile Ground

VI    The Question of  Population

      Maria Mies and Vandana Shiva, Ecofeminism , chps. 18,19

VII. New Directions in Activism        

VIII  Body, Place, Cosmos, and the Real     

Charlene Spretnak , The Resurgence of the Real , pp.1-87,124-144 recommended: Catriona Sandilands, The Good-Natured Feminist, chp. 8

IX Rethinking Politics and Spirituality           

Brinda Rao, "Cosmic Ecology"

Irene Diamond, "Umbilical Ties"

Earthcare ,pp.209-224

Mary Mellor, Feminism and Ecology , chp.8

Paula Gunn Allen, "The Woman I love is a Planet" and Catherine Keller,

"Women Against Wasting the World," in Reweaving the

Val Plumwood, Environmental Culture , chp.10

Requiremments:

1) Readings are to be completed by the assigned dates and class attendance is    expected.

 2) All students will keep a journal .

3) 7 page essay on Griffin, Shiva, or Starhawk (graduate students will complete two of these essays

4) 7 page essay on topic that deals with 1) spirituality; 2) science  3) activism or 4) ecofeminist philosophy  or literature.           (12-15 pages for graduate students)

5) Take home final exam

6)       Graduate students will complete all recommended  readings  and make at least one class  presentation