• English 7
• Electives
• English Course Selection

‪"The first problem for all of us, men and women, is not to learn, but to unlearn." - Gloria Steinem

Course Overview:

Women’s Voices is open to seniors who wish to examine issues of power dynamics, sexuality, body-image, relationships, representation, and gender roles - from a solely female perspective. Reading works written only by women, we will investigate our own assumptions and prejudices, and examine the ways in which these issues have been treated by a number of women authors throughout history. We will focus both on the subjects these women bring up and the ways in which they write, expressing their voices in forms often different from those used by their male counterparts.

We will also examine the ways in which women bring other aspects of their identity - race, class, sexual orientation - into their work. Writing assignments will include personal reflections, analytical papers, and creative pieces. Active participation in class discussion is essential. Course content is discussed in a liberal manner; have an open mind and be respectful of others' opinions. This course is offered in both the fall and spring semesters, but may only be taken for one term.  Women’s Voices will challenge you to rethink everything you thought you knew in a safe, collaborative environment.

Class Texts* (may include):

The Feminine Mystique by Betty Freidan

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

Sula by Toni Morrison

Hunger and Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay

We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Revenge of the Mooncake Vixen by Marilyn Chin

Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

Queer: A Graphic History by Meg-John Barker and Julia Scheele

Men Explain Things to Me by Rebecca Solnit

Sex Object by Jessica Valenti

A Room of One’s Own by Virginia Woolf

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

Fun Home by Alison Bechdel

Aint I a Woman by bell hooks

Documentaries/Visual Media:

Miss Representation by Jennifer Siebel Newsom

 The Hunting Ground by Kirby Dick

Lemonade by Beyonce

*Not all texts will necessarily be read in their entirety.

Essential Questions:

-Which women have rocked the foundations of our society?  How?

-Who are the women who have shaped our world?

-What are some of the untold stories of women that might have otherwise gone unexplored in a high school curriculum?

-What is the history of patriarchy?  How did patriarchy become incorporated in major social institutions?

-How does media portray women?  How does representation (or lack thereof) affect social perceptions of women and femininity?

-What is rape culture?

-What is the definition of consent?

-What is feminism?  What does it mean?  What role does feminism have in our lives?

-What is the history of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd waves of American feminism?

-What is intersectional feminism and why is it important?

-How can we define the nature of women’s relationships, unmediated by men?

-Are trans-women women?  What is a TERF?

-How can we teach men to be strong allies of women?

-How can we empower women to be their best selves?