Course Syllabus

Semester & Location:	Spring 2023 - DIS Copenhagen
Type & Credits:	Elective Course - 3 credits
Major Disciplines:	Gender Studies, History
Prerequisite(s):	None. This class is for everyone, whether your are new to gender and sexuality studies or not. If you are at a more advanced level, talk to me and we will design you work accordingly.
Faculty Members:	Pernille Ipsen
Program Contact:	Helle Rytkønen - hry@dis.dk
Time & Place:	Tuesdays and Fridays, 10.05-11.25, classroom N7-B12

Course Description

This course is a tour de force through the exciting history of feminist activism in Denmark: From the modern women’s movement in the late 1960’s to the blossoming feminist activism in #metoo and BLM today. What were – and are – the main questions for Danish feminists and what roles do questions of gender, class, race, and sexuality play? We focus on particular cases of Danish feminist activism, and compare with similar and different histories of feminism in the US.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, students will have 

• Historical and contemporary knowledge about and understanding of feminism(s) in Denmark and the US.
• Substantial instruction in the four modes of literacy: speaking, reading, writing, and listening.
• Training in the following skills:
  • Asking questions. Developing research questions through engagement with different kinds of sources and posing questions to prompt productive group discussion.
  • Evaluating sources. Determining the perspective, credibility, and utility of source materials. Distinguishing between primary and secondary material for a particular topic. Identifying the perspective or authorial stance of a source. Summarizing an argument presented in a text.
  • Communicating ideas and research findings effectively through writing and oral presentations.
  • Articulating own views and positions in dialogue with those of others.

Faculty

I am currently a visiting professor at DIS (in the academic year 2022-23), but otherwise employed as a Professor of Gender and Women’s Studies and History at University of Wisconsin, where I have taught classes in Gender and Women's Studies and History for 13 years. I was born and grew up in Copenhagen, have an M.A. in history with a minor in Women's and Gender Studies and a Ph.D. in History from University of Copenhagen (2008). As a historian I focus on gender, women, feminism, sexuality, race and colonialism in Scandinavia and the larger Atlantic world. In this course I will draw on research from my 2020 Danish language collective biography Et åbent øjeblik (“An Open Moment: My Seven Mothers and the World They Envisioned”), which follows my seven mothers' lives in and with the Danish women's and lesbian movements in the 1970s. I will also pull material and knowledge from years of experience teaching the history of feminism in the US.

Readings

All readings are available through links under the appropriate date in the calendar. 

Field Studies

1. International Women's Day: March 8 is a very special date in feminist activism all over the world, not least in Copenhagen. We will attend March 8 events around town from 13-17 with an option to continue the special day later into the evening.

2. Pornography at the National Museum: on April 12 we will spend the afternoon at the National Museum where we will be guided through the history of sex, gender & pornography, and hear a presentation about the history of pornography in Denmark by museum curator and historian Mette Byriel-Thygesen. In addition, students will have the option to stay and visit the museums permanent exhibits about Danish history.

Consultation

I will normally be available for consultation before/after class. You are also welcome to email me with questions/thoughts about the course or to set up a meeting, on zoom or in person. I typically only respond to e-mail during the work week, Monday-Friday between 8 and 4.

Approach to Teaching

I am committed to help you live and learn in a community that values you as individuals and recognize the integrity of the communities that provide you identity and support. I want to help you find the best ways for you to engage with your learning. If you think I can help you learn and better succeed in the course, please reach out to me. If you have a documented disability, please contact me within the first two weeks of the course. If you have an undocumented disability or your disability status changes over the course of the semester, please come see me as soon as you can. If you feel like your performance in the class is being impacted by your experiences outside of class, please don't hesitate to come and talk with me. I will treat any information that you share as private and confidential. In short: Everyone is welcome in this class and I am happy to make accommodations, adjustments, alternatives, or whatever I can do to support your engagement.

Expectations of the Students

The primary goal of this class is to train you in the art of critical and analytical reading, thinking, writing, and speaking about feminism, gender and other hierarchies of difference. I encourage you not to agree with everything you read or hear and hope that you are willing to share your opinions in our discussions. Considerate disagreement and challenges to preconceived assumptions are often when we all learn the most. Important requirements for this class are therefore an open mind, respect for different viewpoints, the ability to listen thoughtfully and compassionately to each other, and readiness to share your thoughts.

I will give short lectures and you will make brief presentations, but the majority of our seminar-size class meetings will be discussion- and dialogue based. We will work in the large group as well as in smaller groups or pairs, combining close readings of primary and secondary sources with broader discussions on more general topics discussed in our readings. I expect you to participate actively in discussions, in person and on Canvas, as well as in other class activities like field studies and guest lectures.

Evaluated Work

Weekly writing in discussion forums on Canvas

In 10 of our weeks, I will post a discussion prompt on Canvas. Your initial written response to these posts is due by Monday at 4PM. In addition to the write-up, I expect you to pose at least one question about our readings for our discussions, and to return to the discussion forum at least two times over the course of the week to respond to other people’s comments and questions.

Oral presentations (5 minutes)

At the beginning of class over the course of the semester. This presentation should link readings to something related to feminism, gender, sexuality, or another hierarchy of difference in the world then or now.

Papers

Over the course of the semester, you will write 2 papers (each 3-5-pages, double spaced, font size 12). The first will be in response to my prompt. The other on a topic of your choice, related to and engaging with readings we have done and other materials we have worked on together for the class.

End-of-semester products & presentations

Throughout the semester you will work towards a final product: an idea and plan for activism you would like to conduct, in Denmark or in the US. This may draw on a topic you have worked on in one of your papers or you can choose a different topic. About half way in the semester, I ask you to write up a brief paragraph about the topic you wish to work on (see assignments).

DIS Policies:

Attendance – You are expected to attend all DIS classes when scheduled.  If you miss multiple classes the Director of Teaching and Learning, and the Director of Student Affairs will be notified, and they will follow-up with you to make sure that all is well. Absences will jeopardize your grade and your standing at DIS. Allowances will be made in cases of illness, but in the case of multiple absences you will need to provide a doctor’s note.

Academic Honesty (Plagiarism) – DIS expects that students abide by the highest standards of intellectual honesty in all academic work. DIS assumes that all students do their own work and credit all work or thought taken from others.   Academic dishonesty will result in a final course grade of “F” and can result in dismissal. The students’ home universities will be notified. DIS reserves the right to request that written student assignments be turned in electronic form for submission to plagiarism detection software.  See the Academic Handbook for more information or ask your instructor if you have questions.

Academic Regulations

Please make sure to read the Academic Regulations (https://disabroad.org/copenhagen/studentresource/academic-regulations/) on the DIS website.

There you will find regulations on:

Course Enrollment and Grading (https://disabroad.org/copenhagen/student-resource/academicregulations/course-enrollment-grading/)

Attendance (https://disabroad.org/copenhagen/student-resource/academic-regulations/attendancepolicies/)

Coursework, Exams, and Final Grade Reports (https://disabroad.org/copenhagen/studentresource/academic-regulations/coursework-exams-final-grade-reports/)