WGS-240 Feminist Literature
Examines a broad range of feminist-themed literature, with a focus on 20th- and 21st-century literature in a range of genres including fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. Texts considered in this course are not merely those that centralize women's experiences; they also challenge systems of gender oppression and intervene in cultural conversations about women and gender minorities. How is feminism discussed and questioned across historical representations and diverse experiences? What can literature teach us about how gender impacts our lives? Possible texts include: Alice Walker's The Color Purple, Toni Morrison's Beloved, Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale, poetry by Adrienne Rich, and Michelle Obama's Becoming.