Course Description

At the core of the course is the question how feminism has become a demonized and ridiculed “F-word” in an age when issues of gender and sexuality are at the center of constant, often explosive political debates. These debates often connect media representation and political representation but tend to do so in simplistic ways that bypass or distort decades of sophisticated feminist theory and practice. We will trace back such representations through the decades around case studies that encompass film, video, television and new media practices. The case studies come from the United States and beyond, taking into full account the global interconnectedness of media production and consumption as well as the transnational travel of feminist ideas. The main goal of the course is to evaluate how useful feminist thinking is to understanding the relays between media and political representation; and to develop a lasting critical apparatus to analyzing the politics of gender and sexuality in the media.


Monday, December 2, 2013

The Burden of Feminism


I went to an all-girls, rather authoritarian and extremely academically challenging high-school. The teachers expected a lot from their students and there was little room for creativity or self-expression. The bar of what defined "success" was high, but rather limited. All of us girls, as well-educated females, felt and still feel this enormous pressure to go on to careers that are prestigious and challenging. Most of my friends are currently studying law, medicine, engineering or actuarial sciences. While this ambition is great, I have seen friends not follow their dreams because the career path they really want to follow is seen as a disappointment for an educated woman.

My closest friend in South Africa is an incredible smart woman who has such a passion for baking and cooking. I know that she would love nothing more than to open a bakery, or even just sell goods from home. However, she told me that she feels as though she cannot pursue this; that it would be embarrassing for her. She was embarrassed about taking Home Economics in high-school as she thought that it was a red flag that indicated that she was not an intelligent person. In her mind and as a response from the pressures to succeed, her love for cooking was seen as a cop out. It was not impressive and indicated that she was nothing more than a simple woman. As a result, she is currently studying Law and is rather miserable.

I too feel this pressure to become something successful or influential. I do not yet know what I want to be or do, but out of all the possibilities I already feel the selection of choices I am giving myself narrowed to generally more masculine or impressive jobs, such as being a CEO or an investment banker.

My ideal of feminism is one where women have freedom of choice without stigma. This extends both ways, with women being allowed to accept retrograde ideals and careers if it is not a result of oppression or gender stereotyping but rather passion and freedom.

The question that I end with is, is it the responsibility of educated women today to take on roles and careers that are influential and progressive?
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