Women's Studies
The discipline of Women's Studies has a vision of a world free from sexism. By necessity, freedom from sexism must include a commitment to freedom from national chauvinism; class, ethnic, racial, and heterosexual bias; economic exploitation; religious persecution; ageism; and ableism. Women's studies seeks to identify, understand, and challenge ideologies that institutions knowingly or unknowingly oppress and exploit others, or deny fundamental human rights. Thus, women's studies envision a world in which all persons can develop their fullest potential.
Women's studies use feminist and interdisciplinary methods to teach, conduct research, and expand existing bodies of knowledge. Critical thinking, the production of theory, and the assumption of community and global responsibility are integral to these methods. We are committed to deliberative processes that promote open expression and collaboration. Understanding the interrelationship between the personal and political, we support and promote feminist teaching, learning, research, scholarship, creative activity, and professional and community service.
New Advanced Courses Spring 2010
CAMPAIGNS AND SERVICES FOR VICTIMS OF TRAFFICKING AND SLAVERY (Prof. Donna Hughes): WMS 402 ONLINE (for undergraduates)
WOMEN AND THE ENVIRONMENT: POETRY AND CREATIVE NONFICTION (Prof. Talvi Ansel) WMS 490 Section 1: W 4-6:45
This class is designed for students who are interested in reading poetry and nonfiction by women whose work is rooted in the natural environment. We'll read work by scientists, conservationists, amateur naturalists, and keen observers who also happen to be essayists and poets; we will explore in terms of content and craft the question of what it means to be a woman writing about the environment. Readings may include the following writers and books: Jennifer Ackerman Notes from the Shore, Sandra Alcosser Except by Nature, Elizabeth Bishop Geography III, Rachel Carson, Annie Dillard, Sue Hubell, Joanna Klink Circadian, Lorinne Niedecker, Katy Payne Silent Thunder: In the Presence of Elephants, Leslie Marmon Silko, Terry Tempest Williams Refuge: An Unnatural History of Family and Place, and others. Students will be expected to respond in writing to assigned readings, keep a journal, and also write and submit for discussion their own creative work (nonfiction or poetry) about the natural world.
LATIN AMERICAN WOMEN'S LIVES THROUGH THEIR EYES (Prof. Rosa Maria Pegueros) WMS 490/HIS 393: T TH 2-3:15 p.m.
This course will consider Latin American Women's Lives using autobiographies, biographies, memoirs, diaries and testimonies, including the famed 17th century Mexican nun, Sor Juana Inez de la Cruz; Chilean author Isabel Allende and her account of the coup against her uncle by General Pinochet; as well as female guerrillas in the Central American and Cuban Revolutions, among others.
GENDER, ECONOMICS, & AFRICA'S SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (Prof. Bola Akanji, International Visiting Scholar) WMS 490 (also acceptable for ECONOMICS and AAF credit) M 4-6:45
This seminar will examine how gender and international economics affect women and Africa's sustainable development. It will usefeminist approaches to economic policies and practices to explore differential gender roles and responsibilities in economic production of wealth, goods, and services; differences in access and control of resources, functioning of market and non-market production and gender inequalities in earnings, livelihood, rights and empowerment. While focused on Africa, the course will invite students to consider global contexts of poverty, well-being, and human development from a gender perspective. The course will begin by investigating some African literature and cultural studies to understand the African feminist context.
FEMINIST THEORY AND ITS RAMIFICATIONS (Prof. Jody Lisberger) WMS 500 T 4-6:45
In this colloquium, students will investigate feminist theory and consider its impact and ramifications for their scholarly fields and issues in today's world. The readings will focus on issues of language, linearity, narrative, race, class, and gender. During the semester, students will also read from the current work of URI faculty scholars and attend the Dana Shugar Colloquium Lectures on Virginia Woolf (Stephen Barber), feminist film and language (Mary Cappello and Jean Walton), fiction craft and theory (Jody Lisberger), domestic violence (Jenn Moio and Keith Labelle), "belonging and unbelonging" (Fawzia Afzal-Khan), and gender and sustainability (Bola Akanji). Students will use their reading and discussion to open up new dimensions in their own scholarly work and lives. The final goal for students is to write a publishable paper that incorporates feminist theory.
CAMPAIGNS AND SERVICES FOR VICTIMS OF TRAFFICKING AND SLAVERY (Prof. Donna Hughes): WMS 502 ONLINE (for graduates)
More Information
Please check out the 2009 Fall Semester edition of the WMS Newsletter
Read what students are saying about Women's Studies.
Director Jody Lisberger leads
WMS 150 assessment meeting.
Vice Provost Laura Beauvais, Profs.
Donna Hughes, Adria Evans, and
Karen Stein attend Sakai training.
Women Studies faculty: Eva Jones,
Jenn Brandt, and Agata Stepien
attend Sakai training.
International visiting scholar Dr. Bola
Akanji with Director Jody Lisberger
