WMST-L File Collection

Last updated: Sept. 27, 2010

Welcome to the WMST-L file collection. Established in 1991, WMST-L is a large, international email forum or "list" for discussion of Women's Studies teaching, research, and program administration. Over the years, the list has amassed a large collection of files relating to these topics. Many of the files contain discussions that have taken place on WMST-L. Also included are essays, interviews, bibliographies, and other items created and made available by WMST-L participants. Please note that most WMST-L discussions have not been made into files.

To Search: The following topical index may make it easier to find files in a given subject area. The entire listing, arranged alphabetically, can be found after the topical index. You can also search any page by using your browser's Find command. On most English-language computers running Windows, hit CTRL-F [the "CTRL" key and the F key together] to bring up the search box. Since the web page you're currently looking at contains the titles and brief descriptions of all files in the WMST-L File Collection, using the Find command on this page should help you identify most files on a given topic.

Academia Books & Films

Feminism(s) (including Critiques) Feminist Theory/Theories

Girls and Young Women Grad School/Job Market

Health/Biology History

Intro to Women's Studies Language

Men Miscellaneous

Pedagogical Issues and Strategies Program Administration

Race/Religion/Ethnicity Sexuality/Sexual Orientation

Societal Issues in the Classroom WMST-L

NOTE: Because many of the files contain messages going back several years, the e-mail addresses and URLs may no longer be valid. Please do not write to ask for more current information. Also, be aware that many of the email addresses have had additional spaces added on both sides of the @ sign, in an attempt to thwart automated address harvesters. [Beginning in 2003, files created or modified have had @ changed to AT for the same reasons.]

Here is the complete File Collection, arranged alphabetically:

The Academic Job Market: ( April/May 1995; 3 parts)
Academic Job Searches in Women's Studies: A Bibliography (Updated): (WMST-L member Katherine Side prepared the first version of this bibliography for the 1997 NWSA conference and updated it in 2003.)
Activism Course Readings: (This discussion of suggested readings and other resources to introduce students to feminist activism took place on WMST-L in November 2006.)
Activist Narratives: (Narratives about activists that might be appropriate for use in an undergraduate course. WMST-L discussion, September 2008. See also Autobiographies/Memoirs by Women Activists and Leaders.)
African-American Women's Identity: A Bibliography: (This bibliography was compiled by WMST-L member Xeturah M. Woodley and Carmen Williams. Prof. Woodley made it available on WMST-L in September, 1994)
The Appeal of (Same-Sex) Marriage: (The appeal that marriage holds for same-sex and other couples in spite of its being a "flawed and patriarchal institution." The discussion took place on WMST-L in January/February 2009, with added messages from June/July 2010. Of related interest may be an earlier file, The Politics of Marriage.)
Applying for an Academic Job: (August 1994)
Assessment Tools for Women's Studies Programs: (WMST-L discussion in October 2003 about assessment tools that are appropriate for use by Women's Studies programs.)
Autobiographies/Memoirs by Women Activists and Leaders: (Reading suggestions offered on WMST-L in October and December 2001.)
Backlash: Girls vs. Boys: (WMST-L discussion in April 2003 about a backlash against women's and girls' achievement in education, both in the United States and abroad. See also the earlier WMST-L discussion The War Against Boys.)
Barbara Jordan, E. Bradford Burns, and Me: Coming Out in Public Life: (An essay by WMST-L member Rosa Maria Pegueros that considers issues involved in coming out in political and academic life.)
Barbie Info: (Resources for information about Barbie, a doll very popular and influential with many young girls. The resources were offered on WMST-L in May 2000)
Bigotry in the Classroom: (A WMST-L discussion from February 1995 on how to deal with bigotry in the classroom. 3 parts)
Black Feminist Theory; Black Women and Sexualized Images (2 Subjects): (Responses to a January 2008 WMST-L query asking for literature on two subjects: Black feminist theory and Black women and sexualized images.)
Black Feminist/Womanist Works: A Beginning List: (A bibliography compiled by WMST-L member Joya Misra and added to the WMST-L files in late 1996. The author welcomes suggestions for additional entries.)
The Body and Culture: Suggested Readings: (This file offers suggestions for accessible texts dealing with the body and culture. WMST-L discussion, Sept./Oct. 2002.)
Body Image and Young Girls: (Responses to a 1998 WMST-L query seeking suggested books, videos, etc. that encourage more positive body image among young girls.)
Body Image, Strength, and 'Masculinity': (A discussion of women's strength and body image, and the fear of appearing too 'masculine.' The discussion, which includes extensive resources, took place on WMST-L in May 2003.)
Books Helpful to Housebound New Mothers: (Recommendations for fiction and non-fiction, as well as some coping strategies, that a housebound new mother might find helpful. WMST-L discussion, May 2003)
Books on/for Young Feminists: (Recommended books and other works on/by/for young feminists. WMST-L discussion, January 2004.)
Boys and Rape: (Recommended resources dealing with the social factors that may influence boys/men to commit rape. WMST-L, May 2004.)
Brain Differences and Sex: (Discussion of research on brain differences between women and men. WMST-L, February 2002. 2 parts.)
Breast Cancer and Abortion: Is There a Link?: (Discussion and resources for refuting the anti-choice claim of a link between having an abortion and developing breast cancer. The discussion took place on WMST-L in February 2005.)
'Burnout' in Women's Studies: (Discussion of 'burnout' among people teaching Women's Studies, though some participants point out that the phenomenon occurs in other fields as well. 2-part WMST-L discussion. November 2001)
Can "Guys" Refer to Women and Girls?: (WMST-L discussion about whether the term "guys" can/should be used to refer to women and girls. April 2002. 2 parts. See also the March 2005 discussion, Is the Term "Guys" Gender Neutral?)
Changing the "Second Shift": (What kinds of social changes--large and small--might change the "second shift"? WMST-L discussion, April 2009)
Christian Feminists: Suggested Readings: (Suggestions for short readings by self-identified Christian feminists suitable for use in an Introduction to Women's Studies course. WMST-L discussion, December 2001)
A Christian Pro-Choice Perspective: (Suggested resources for students wishing to research pro-choice arguments from a Christian perspective. WMST-L discussion, April 2003. Of related interest may be the files Christian Feminists: Suggested Readings, Feminism and Evangelical Christianity, and Pro-Life Views in Women's Studies.)
Coming-of-Age Novels for Conservative Students: (WMST-L discussion in August 2000 about coming-of-age novels suitable for use with conservative freshmen. The discussion gave rise to consideration as well of whether one should teach gay/lesbian novels in such a course.)
The Concept of Invisibility: (This discussion was begun by someone who was about to teach Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man, but it quickly moved to a broader consideration of the notion of "invisibility." WMST-L discussion, October 2006)
The Concept of Machismo: (WMST-L discussion; November/December 1994)
Consciousness Raising Groups: (A discussion about consciousness raising groups of the 1960s and '70s and the use of CR groups today in the classroom and elsewhere. WMST-L, February 2010)
Conservative Feminism: An Oxymoron?: (December 1998; see also Radical Feminism, below)
Conservative Students in Women's Studies Classes: (Suggestions for how to deal with conservative students. January 1993)
Cooperative Learning: (A discussion of cooperative learning issues and strategies that took place on WMST-L in October/November 1993)
The Courage to Heal and Memories of Abuse: (WMST-L discussion about the book The Courage to Heal and the issue of memories of sexual abuse. The discussion took place in June 1998. 2 parts)
A Course on Women and Food: (Suggested resources for a course on women and food. WMST-L discussion, December 2003)
Critiques of John Gray's Mars/Venus Theory: (A request for critiques of the theories underlying John Gray's book Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus gave rise to a 2007 WMST-L discussion; a shorter discussion of Gray took place two years later. This file contains messages from both.)
Crosslisting Courses in Women's Studies: (Policies outlining criteria used by WS programs for crosslisting courses. Messages from 1992, 1995, and 2001)
Current Research on Sex Differences: (A discussion of sex differences research more recent than that by Maccoby and Jacklin. WMST-L discussion, January 2007.)
Cutting/Self-Mutilation among Adolescent Girls: (Resources about cutting and self-mutilation among adolescent girls. WMST-L discussion, January 2005.)
Daphne Patai, Women's Studies, and the Chronicle: (A WMST-L discussion concerning an essay about women's studies by Daphne Patai in the Chronicle of Higher Education and the wisdom of the Chronicle's choice of Patai to discuss the state of women's studies. October/November 2000. 3 parts.)
Darwinian/Evolutionary Feminism: (This WMST-L discussion seeks to clarify the meaning of "Darwinian" or "evolutionary" feminism. The discussion took place in May 2005.)
Dealing with Disruptive Students: (January 1997; 2 parts)
Dealing with Disruptive Students II: (September 1999)
Dealing with Disturbing Films: (WMST-L discussion from February 2001 that focuses especially on some films by Spike Lee and on Boys Don't Cry)
Dealing with Sensitive Subjects in Class: (WMST-L discussion, February 1993. See also the related file Dealing with Sensitive Subjects II)
Dealing with Sensitive Subjects II: (WMST-L discussion from May 2000 about how to deal with student objections to discussing sensitive subjects in class. See also the earlier, related discussion above)
Discussions about Beauty Issues: (A query about good discussions of beauty issues--"makeup, high heels, etc."--elicited the suggestions offered in this file. WMST-L discussion, October 2008)
Documentaries on Transgender Issues: (Suggested documentaries for a college course section on transgender politics. WMST-L discussion, September 2008, and an additional message from 2010.)
Does the Fetus Begin as Female?: (WMST-L discussion, April 2000)
Doing Work on Time: Teaching Strategies: (Suggested strategies for getting students to do their assigned reading/work on time. October/November 1997 discussion)
Domestic Violence Course Resources: (Suggested introductory materials for a course on violence against women, especially intimate partner violence in the U.S. WMST-L discussion, June 2010)
Domestic Violence in Film: (Suggestions for films that portray domestic violence. The first part focuses especially on popular, mainstream films, while the second part offers a somewhat broader ranger of suggestions. WMST-L discussiona, 2004 and 2007.)
Domestic Violence Training for High School Guidance Teachers: (Suggested resources for contructing a curriculum to help train high school guidance teachers about domestic violence (dating violence). WMST-L discussion, March 2004.)
Ecofeminism in the Caribbean: (Suggested resources for creating an undergraduate syllabus on this topic. WMST-L discussion, August/September 2003.)
The Effects of Title IX: (WMST-L discussion from June 2002 about the effects of Title IX, both in sports and beyond.)
Evaluating Student Journals: (Discussion of whether/how to evaluate student journals. WMST-L, January/February 1995)
Evolutionary Psychology?: (Two brief WMST-L discussions from April and May 2008 that offer resources for dealing with the claims of evolutionary psychology. The May discussion focuses primarily on works useful for an Intro to Women's Studies course.)
Exercises and Projects for Intro to Women's Studies: (Suggested exercises and projects appropriate for an Introduction to Women's Studies course. Most of the suggestions were offered on WMST-L in December 1997.)
Exercises for the First Day of Class: (Suggested exercises and strategies to use on the first day of a women's studies class to orient students to feminism. Suggestions come from WMST-L discussions in 1993, 1994, 1998, 1999, 2003, and 2006. See also Exercises and Projects for Intro to Women's Studies.)
Experiential Learning Activities: (WMST-L discussion of activities "designed to enable students to experience a brief slice of life from a perspective other than their own." November 1999)
Family Responsibilities and Academic Work: (WMST-L discussion in November 2001 resulting from the AAUP's "Statement of Principles on Family Responsibilities and Academic Work." Concern was expressed about who was and was not covered and the fairness/wisdom of dealing with the tenure issue in this way. See also the earlier file, Maternity/Family Leave.)
Female Adolescent Experience: Suggestions for a Course: (Suggested texts and strategies for a course on "The Female Adolescent Experience." WMST-L discussion, July 1999)
Female Buddy Literature: (A discussion of female "buddy" literature that took place on WMST-L in October 2006. See also the earlier, related file, Women Buddy Films.)
The Female Gaze: (We often hear about the male gaze, but is there also a female gaze? If so, to what does the term refer? WMST-L discussion, March 2008)
Female Genital Mutilation: (Two-part WMST-L file including discussions from 1994 and 1997. See also Incorporating FGM into Courses, Female Genital Mutilation II, and Genital Cutting and Gender.)
Female Genital Mutilation, II: (Further discussions of the topic, these from January and August 2000, February and November 2001, and October 2004. See also the earlier discussions from 1994 and 1997 (above) and the files Incorporating FGM into Courses and Genital Cutting and Gender.)
Feminism and Evangelical Christianity: (WMST-L discussion concerning the relationship between feminism and evangelical Christianity. April 2003.)
Feminism and Social Change: Suggested Readings: (Suggested readings for a course on Feminism and Social Change. WMST-L query and responses, including syllabi. November/December 2003.)
Feminist Bloggers: (This WMST-L discussion from May 2005 seeks to identify interesting female and, especially, feminist bloggers.)
The Feminist Challenge to Men: (Suggested readings that deal with 'the feminist challenge to men' for a course on 'Men and Feminism.' WMST-L discussion, August 2007.)
Feminist Criticism of the Media: (Suggestions for works about and/or examples of feminist criticism of the media appropriate for an undergraduate class. WMST-L discussion, January 2004.)
Feminist Critiques of Judith Butler's Theories: (Responses to a WMST-L query in October 2007. Of related interest may be an earlier file, Teaching Butler and Haraway)
Feminist Epistemology: (February 1996; 2 parts [incl. reading list])
Feminist Film Reviews: (Since 1992, WMST-L member Linda Lopez McAlister has been making her feminist film reviews available via WMST-L. Those reviews, along with some others unconnected to WMST-L, are now also available on MITH's Women's Studies Database. This link will take you there.)
Feminist Interpretation of Fairy Tales: (June 1994; 2 parts)
Feminist Jokes: (Resources and issues for Women's Studies faculty wishing to inject some feminist humor in the classroom. WMST-L discussion, October 2003.)
Feminist Pedagogical Resource Guide: Introduction to Women's Studies: (This .pdf document, compiled in 2002-2003 by WMST-L member Farrah Ferriell, consists of suggestions offered on WMST-L concerning the Introduction to Women's Studies course. Sections include assignments, exercises and activities, projects, and references and pedagogical research tools.)
Feminist Pedagogy: (This 2-part WMST-L discussion from December 2001 considers such issues as what feminist pedagogy is, whether it is compatible with giving students failing grades, its use in large classes, and whether it is more than a synonym for good teaching practices.)
Feminist Spirituality: (Wide-ranging discussions of feminist spirituality, including definitions, teaching resources, the relation between spirituality and religion, and more. Discussions took place on WMST-L in March 2008 and August/September 2009.)
Feminist TV Characters: (Identification of television characters more contemporary than Murphy Brown who are 'unselfconsciously feminist.' WMST-L discussion, March 2004.)
Feminists Who Reject the Feminist Label: (WMST-L, October 1993)
Feminists Who Reject the Feminist Label II: (WMST-L, September 2008)
Feminist Theories of Law: (Suggested readings about feminist theories of law, including religious law. These suggestions were L offered on WMST-L in February 2002.)
Feminist Theory: Suggested Readings: (Suggested books and articles that any student of feminist theory should read. Results of a 1997 query posed by WMST-L member Joya Misra, who then compiled the responses.)
Feminist Theory: Suggested Readings II: (A request for suggested feminist theory texts produced the following WMST-L discussion in November 1999. Of related interest may be What is 'Feminist Theory'?)
Feminist Utopian Fiction: (WMST-L discussion in July/August 2000 that began as a request for suggested works and evolved to consider also issues of aging and death.)
Feminist Views of Pornography: (This discussion of feminist views of pornography took place on WMST-L in January 2004. See also the earlier file Teaching about Pornography.)
Feminist Visions of the Future: (A brief WMST-L discussion of resources for teaching about feminist visions of the future. December 2003.)
Films about First Wave Feminists/Feminism: (A discussion on educational films about first wave feminists/feminism. WMST-L, September/October 2009)
Films About Women in Prison: (Recommendations for films dealing with women's experience in prison.)
Films About Working Women: (A discussion of films that deal with working women. Several of the messages focus on Salt of the Earth. The discussion took place on WMST-L in July 2005.)
Films and Texts for a Sexuality Course: (Two discussions about resources for a course on sexuality: one seeks appropriate films, the other asks about current texts. The discussions took place on WMST-L in July and October, 2004.)
Films Focusing on Sexuality: (Suggestions for films that focus on sexuality. WMST-L discussion, January 2007.)
Films for an Intro to Sexuality and Gender Studies Course: (Recommendations for films that would be effective in an Introduction to Sexuality and Gender Studies course. WMST-L discussion, June 2009)
Finding Academic Job Announcements: (Two brief WMST-L discussions in October 2003 focused on where to look for academic jobs in Women's Studies and for academic jobs in general in institutions that prize teaching above research.)
Finding Collections of Feminist Periodicals: (Discussion of how and where to find archived collections of feminist newspapers, magazines, and other periodicals. WMST-L, October 2004.)
The Fluidity of Sex, Sexuality, and Gender: (This lengthy WMST-L discussion began in July 2001 with a query about a term for women who dress up as transvestites. After some consideration of terms (several involving "drag"), the topic evolved into a discussion about social construction and the fluidity of sex, sexuality, and gender. Additional messages from 2001-2003 have been added at the end of the file. 5 parts.)
Freud and Feminism: Introductory Readings: (Suggestions for introductory readings to help undergraduates understand why some feminists have found Freud to be worth reading and thinking about. WMST-L discussion, October 2009.)
Gender and Teaching Evaluation: (The effect of gender on evaluating teaching. WMST-L, January 1993. Of related interest is Student Ratings of Professors are not Gender Blind, an essay by WMST-L member Susan Basow.)
Gender and Teaching Evaluation II: (Additional discussions of the effect of gender on teaching evaluations, one from December 2000/January 2001, the other from September 2002. See also the preceding file.)
Gender-Inclusive Language: (July 1995 discussion; 2 parts)
Gender-Inclusive Language and "Man": (September 2000 and January 2002 discussions; 3 parts)
The Gender Knot - Allan Johnson: (Information and strong recommendations for this book by WMST-L subscriber Allan Johnson. It's the book most frequently recommended as an introduction to feminist issues for men and/or for those who "just don't get it." Messages on page 1 span 1997-2002, with one from 2005 about Johnson's second text that builds on _The Gender Knot_; page 2 adds messages from a 2006 discussion.)
Gender Theory Readings: (Recommended books and articles for an undergraduate course in Gender Theory. WMST-L discussion, September 2003.)
Genital Cutting and Gender: (A WMST-L discussion from January 2008 responding to a request for resources dealing with FGM/FGE and male circumcision together. See also Female Genital Mutilation, Female Genital Mutilation II, and Incorporating FGM into Courses)
Getting Together: How to Start a Consciousness-Raising Group: (A 1972 pamphlet by WMST-L member Marge Piercy and Jane Freeman)
Gifts for Women's Studies Graduates: (What kind of gift might be appropriate for a Women's Studies Program to give to its students when they graduate? WMST-L discussion, April 2006)
Girl Power and Girl Audiences: (A discussion of work on the rise of 'girl power' in the media and Western culture and on girls as consumers/audiences of popular culture texts. WMST-L, May 2004.)
The Girl Power Movement and Feminism: (A discussion of the "girl power movement," with some attention to its relationship to feminism. WMST-L discussion, October/November 2000).
Girls and the Internet: (Responses to a June 2002 query concerning studies done on girls and the Internet and/or World Wide Web.)
Girls' Studies and Women's Studies: (WMST-L discussion in December 2001 (with a followup in January 2002) about the relationship between Girls' Studies and Women's Studies and whether Girls' Studies should be a separate discipline.)
Global Feminisms Texts: (Recommendations for feminist theory texts that give students a sense of the issues concerning global feminisms. WMST-L discussion, June 2003.)
Globalization Resources: (Resources and strategies for dealing with globalization in a women's studies course. WMST-L discussion, March 2003.)
Global Women Writers: Suggested Reading: (Recommendations for "books that students won't be able to put down" for a course on Global Women Writers. The discussion took place on WMST-L in April 2007.)
Grading and Writing Instruction: (Difficulties involved in grading and in teaching students to write. 3 parts: March/May 1999. Also of interest may be a more recent discussion, Writing Assignments in Large Classes.)
Grading Group Projects: (Issues involved in assigning grades for group projects. October/November 1997)
Growing Up Female in Fiction and Film: (Suggestions for books and films relevant to a course on growing up female/female coming-of-age. A two-part file from October/November 1993 and December 1997. Of related interest may be Women's Autobiography.)
Guardian of Language: An Interview with Hélène Cixous: (A 1996 interview with French feminist literary critic and philosopher Hélène Cixous, conducted by WMST-L member Kathleen O'Grady. Another WMST-L file of possible interest: Making "French feminism" Accessible to Undergraduates.)
Have Women Achieved Equality?: (Discussion of how to deal with some students' belief that today "men and women are equal in every area of life." July 1998; 3 parts)
Heterosexual Desire in Fiction: (Suggestions for works of fiction depicting women's heterosexual desire. WMST-L discussion, December 2001.)
History of Battered Women's Shelters: (Discussion of the first battered women's shelter and who started it. WMST-L, April 2001.)
Household Division of Labor: (Discussion of gender beliefs and the household division of labor; consideration also of research methodology. WMST-L, September 2002.)
Housework: Nonfiction and Martha Stewart: (This discussion began with a query about nonfiction works dealing with housework, but it quickly expanded to include much attention to Martha Stewart and parodic elements of housework. 2-part WMST-L discussion. November/December 2001)
How Political is the Personal?: Identity Politics, Feminism and Social Change: (Essay contributed to the WMST-L file collection in 1994 by list member Joan D. Mandle. The Web version includes a few small changes.)
How to Empower Students in the Intro Course: (A discussion of how to empower students and prevent them from feeling powerless in the face of their growing awareness of societal problems. It took place on WMST-L in September 2005. Of related interest is an earlier file, Is Women's Studies Too Negative?)
How to Search the WMST-L Logfiles: (Every message sent to WMST-L is automatically saved in the logfiles. These can be searched quickly and easily by keyword, sender, date, or a combination of these. Here are illustrated instructions for how to perform such a search. NOTE: Only current WMST-L subscribers may search the logfiles.)
How to Stop Sending Attachments/HTML: (E-mail attachments and HTML messages are banned on WMST-L and a number of other lists. This file explains the problem and how to deal with it. It offers specific advice for people using Netscape Messenger, Microsoft Outlook or Exchange, Eudora, AOL 6, Lotus Notes, Apple Mail, and more.)
Humorous Short Stories by Women: (Suggestions for humorous short stories by women appropriate for use in an Intro to Women's Literature course. WMST-L discussion, May 2009)
Immigrant Literature: Suggested Works: (Suggestions for autobiographies, novels, films, etc. dealing with the immigrant experience from a female point of view. WMST-L discussion, October 2002.)
Immigrant Women in New York, 1890-1920: (Print and other resources about immigrant women, especially those in New York from 1890-1920. WMST-L discussion, April 2006)
Incorporating FGM into Courses: (Suggested readings and lesson plans for incorporating the issue of female genital mutilation into courses on Contemporary Moral Issues and on African American Women Writers. See also Female Genital Mutilation, Female Genital Mutilation II, and Genital Cutting and Gender.)
Indexing a Book: The Pros and Cons: (Is it necessary to create an index for a book one writes/edits? If so, what is the best way to do this? Can creating an index be a "feminist act"? WMST-L discussion, February 2009)
Integrating Lesbian/Bisexual Issues into Courses: (Suggestions offered on WMST-L in April 1995 for how to integrate lesbian and bisexual experience and concerns into Women's Studies courses.)
Introducing Feminism in an African American Studies Course: (Suggestions for readings and films that would be useful in introducing the topic of feminism in an African American Studies course. WMST-L discussion, February 2005.)
Intro to Women's Studies: Group Projects: (Suggestions for group projects appropriate for the Introduction to Women's Studies course. These suggestions appeared on WMST-L in May 2004. See also the earlier files Exercises and Projects for the Intro to Women's Studies and Grading Group Projects.)
Intro to Women's Studies: Recommendations: (The first of two pages offers responses on WMST-L in October 2001 to the question "What one thing would you recommend to someone about to teach an Introduction to Women's Studies course?" The second page offers a variety of other recommendations from 2005 for teaching the Intro course.)
Intro to Women's Studies: Suggested Readings: (Suggested texts, works of fiction, and other readings appropriate for an Introduction to Women's Studies course. Two WMST-L discussions: January 2000 and February 2008. The January 2000 discussion also includes brief attention to copyright issues.)
Is Modern Medicine Sexist?: (Two-part file resulting from a discussion on WMST-L in October 2000 about whether modern medical research and funding are biased in favor of women and offer inadequate recognition of men's health problems.)
Issues Involving a 'Gender Autobiography' Assignment: (A discussion of the advisability of making a 'gender autobiography' assignment in the Intro to Women's Studies course, and also of the role of faculty members in whom students confide. WMST-L discussion, December 2005)
Is the Term "Guys" Gender Neutral?: (A WMST-L discussion in March 2005 that asks whether the term "guys" is or can be gender neutral. See also a similar discussion that took place in April 2002: Can "Guys" Refer to Women and Girls?)
Is Women's Studies Too Negative?: (A WMST-L discussion from May 1993 addressing the complaint that Women's Studies courses focus too much on negative aspects of women's experiences.)
Japanese Women Writers: (A discussion of Japanese and Japanese-American women writers who deal with issues of gender, race, and ethnicity in a modern context. The discussion took place on WMST-L in May 2005.)
Judging Other Cultures: (Discussion about whether a culture can/should be judged by how the women in that culture are treated. WMST-L, February/March 2002. 3 parts.)
Knitting as a Revolutionary Act: (A discussion of women's needlecraft, especially knitting, as a feminist, revolutionary act. WMST-L, late April/early May 2002.)
Language and Gender Exercises: (Suggestions for language and gender exercises suitable for an intro class. WMST-L discussion, May 2008.)
The Language of Feminist Theory: (Is there justification for feminists to use the sometimes inaccessible language of high theory? A WMST-L discussion that took place in March 1993.)
LGBT Fiction and Memoirs for a Course: (Suggestions for novels, short-story collections, and memoirs that could be used in an LGBT-themed junior/senior level course. WMST-L, April 2008.)
LGBT Textbook Suggestions: (Suggestions for an LGBT textbook for a course on LGBT culture or LGBT history. WMST-L discussion, September 2008)
Making 'Contemporary' Women's Literature Relevant: (A discussion of ways to make women's literature of the 1970s and '80s, and the feminism it reflects, relevant to 21st-century students. The discussion took place on WMST-L in January 2005.)
Making "French feminism" Accessible to Undergraduates: (Suggested works by or about Irigaray, Cixous, and Kristeva that would help make these and other "French feminist" writers accessible to undergraduates. There is also some discussion about the term "French feminism." WMST-L discussion, October 2008. Another WMST-L file of possible interest: Guardian of Language: An Interview with Hélène Cixous.)
Male Alienation in Women's Studies Classes: (April 1993; 2 parts)
Male Oppression: (WMST-L discussion, July 1998)
March of the Penguins: Some Perspectives: (A discussion of feminist and non-feminist perspectives on the film "March of the Penguins." WMST-L, August 2005.)
Marianismo: Origin and Meaning: (WMST-L discussion of the origin and meaning of the term "Marianismo." January 2000.)
Marriage and Name Change: (A discussion of various societies' practices concerning the changing of one's last name when one marries. WMST-L discussion, December 2001.)
Marxist Feminism: (Attempts to define/explain Marxist Feminism. WMST-L, August 1994)
"The Master's Tools....": (A discussion of Audre Lorde's often-quoted statement, "The master's tools will never dismantle the master's house." WMST-L, September 2008.)
Maternity/Family Leave: (Discussion of maternity/parental/family leave policies at U. S. institutions of higher learning, as well as some discussion of the implications of gender-neutral language for maternity leave and discussion of the Family Leave Act. These messages appeared on WMST-L in 1997-1999. Also of interest may be a file from 2001, Family Responsibilities and Academic Work.)
Men and Masculinity: Suggested Readings: (Suggested readings for a course on men and masculinity. WMST-L, December 2000)
Men in Women's Studies Classes: (January 1997; 2 parts)
Men in Women's Studies Classes II: (February 1999; 2 parts)
Men in Women's Studies Classes III: (November 1999; 2 parts)
Men in Women's Studies Classes IV: (The focus on this October 2003 WMST-L discussion is on existing research on this topic.)
Men in Women's Studies: The Mary Daly Case: (A discussion of Boston College professor Mary Daly's controversial decision to bar men from her women's studies classes and instead to teach them separately. February through November 1999, with follow-up in February 2001; 3 parts)
Men's Studies?: (The following discussion of "men's studies"--what it is, what its relationship is to women's studies, etc.--took place on WMST-L in January/February 2000)
Menstruation: A List of Sources: (A 1996 bibliography compiled by Paula Wansbrough and WMST-L member Kathleen O'Grady. 2 parts)
Menstruation and Religion: A List of Sources: (A 1998 bibliography compiled by WMST-L member Kathleen O'Grady.)
Million Dollar Baby: A Feminist Message?: (A lnegthy discussion of the film Million Dollar Baby took place on WMST-L in June and July, 2005. Much of the discussion focused on the issue of the extent to which the film had a feminist message. This file is in 3 parts.)
The MIT Discrimination Report: "Junk Science"?: (WMST-L discussions in December 1999 and February 2001, prompted by criticism of the MIT report admitting that the institution had discriminated against female faculty members. 2 parts)
Motherhood and Pregnancy in Popular Culture: (WMST-L discussion in November 2001 about representations of motherhood and pregnancy in popular culture and in the media.)
Motivating Discussion by Female Students: (How to encourage female students to speak up in class. WMST-L, December 1993)
Multicultural Intro Texts: (Some suggestions for Introduction to Women's Studies texts that have abundant multicultural selections. WMST-L discussion, June 2002.)
Multicultural Women in the U.S.: Book Suggestions: (Suggested books that might be used in a course on "Multicultural Women in the United States." The suggestions were offered on WMST-L in July 2005.)
Music of Women's Struggles and Recovery: (Suggestions for music dealing with women's struggles and recovery. WMST-L discussion, March/April 2004.)
The Need for Women's Studies Programs: (Brief discussion of resources dealing with the need for Women's Studies programs. WMST-L discussion, August 2000.)
Never Send a Virus Warning to WMST-L!: (The title says it all. The message includes links to some virus hoax sites where you can check up on so-called virus warnings.)
News about Feminist Books and Bookstores: (Suggestions for how to find out about feminist books and bookstores, now that Feminist Bookstore News no longer exists. WMST-L discussion, October 2002)
Nomadic Philosopher: A Conversation with Rosi Braidotti: (A 1995 interview with postmodern feminist philosopher Rosi Braidotti, conducted by WMST-L member Kathleen O'Grady.)
Non-fiction Readings for the Intro Course: (Suggestions for non-fiction readings suitable for an Introduction to Women's Studies course. WMST-L discussion, April/May 2010)
Non-Sexist Books for Children: (Suggestions for finding non-sexist books for children. WMST-L discussion, September 2004.)
Novels about Women and Education: (Recommended academic novels and films, some focusing on students, others on faculty. April 1996)
Novels for a Course on the Women's Movement: (A request for suggested novels for a course on the Women's Liberation Movement gave rise to this WMST-L discussion in May 2005.)
Novels for High School Women's Studies: (Suggestions for novels and other texts appropriate for a high school women's studies course. WMST-L discussion, October 2002.)
Novels for the Intro Course: (A discussion of novels recommended for use in an Introduction to Women's Studies. WMST-L, March 2007)
Obstacles to Women's Use of the Internet: (A brief discussion of resources about obstacles to women's use of the Internet. WMST-L,, November 2004.)
Older, Contented Women in Fiction: (Responses to a January 2009 query on WMST-L for "novels that depict strong, single, independent, over 40, childfree women who are satisfied with their lives.")
Online Degrees in Women's Studies: (Information about institutions offering online degrees in Women's Studies at either the undergraduate or the graduate level. WMST-L query, May 2003; updated 2005, 2007, and 2010.)
Origin of Women's History Month: (Some answers to the perennial question.)
Origins of the LGBT Rights Movement: (Discussion of the various "origins" of the LGBT [lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender] rights movement. WMST-L discussion, June 2002.)
Origin(s) of "Rule of Thumb": (Various explanations for the origin of the phrase "rule of thumb." WMST-L, 1993-2005)
Patriarchy: Use of the Term: (Discussions from May 1994 and March 2003. See also the later file Teaching About Patriarchy)
Pay Equity Issues and Women's Studies: (A discussion of claims that Women's Studies does not pay adequate attention to women's pay equity. WMST-L, April 2007)
The Pedagogy of Discomfort: (Recommendations for works dealing with discomfort as a teaching tool and as a form of pedagogy. WMST-L discussion, September 2002. A related file is the 1994 discussion 'Safe Space' in the Classroom.)
'The Personal is Political': Origins of the Phrase: (Various suggestions appearing on WMST-L from 1996 through 2007 about the origins of the phrase "the personal is political")
A Ph.D. in Women's Studies?: (Should we advise students to get a Ph.D. in Women's Studies? April 1997 discussion)
The Pink Video "Stupid Girls": (WMST-L discussion from May 2006 offering responses to the Pink video "Stupid Girls.")
The Politics of the Burqa: (Readings and films on the politics of the burqa. WMST-L discussion, December 2009)
The Politics of Marriage: (Resources concerning the politics of marriage, with particular focus on same-sex marriage. WMST-L discussion, March 2004. See also the 2009 file The Appeal of (Same-Sex) Marriage)
Pop Culture and the Curriculum: (What is the worth of popular culture? Are Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Nancy Drew legitimate objects of study? Is their inclusion in the curriculum a sign that standards have been lowered? A lenthy discussion of this and some related issues took place on WMST-L in September 2006. This five-part file focuses primarily on the part of the discussion concerned with pop culture.)
Postmodernism: Intro Readings: (Recommended readings to introduce students to feminism and postmodernism. WMST-L discussion, August 1998.)
The Poverty Game as a Teaching Tool: (Three-part WMST-L discussion. October-November, 1999. See also a related discussion from 2005, Resources for Teaching about Poverty.)
'Privilege' Exercises: (Five-part WMST-L discussion about exercises that help raise students' awareness of 'privilege' -- their own and others'. April 2002.)
'Problematize' and Academic Discourse: (Discussion of the meaning of "problematize" and the use of words like this in academic discourse. It took place on WMST-L in February/March 2000)
Professing Feminism, by Patai and Koertge: (A three-part discussion of Professing Feminism: Cautionary Tales from the Strange World of Women's Studies, by Daphne Patai and Noretta Koertge. The discussion took place on WMST-L over a period of months in 1994 and 1995.)
Pro-Life Views in Women's Studies: (This discussion of pro-life feminism took place on WMST-L in October/November 2002.)
Pronoun Usage, Identity, and Privilege: (WMST-L discussion, September 1999)
Prostitution in Film: (A two-part WMST-L discussion from March 1995 in response to a query about films depicting prostitution/sexwork, for use in a seminar. See also the 2002 discussion Prostitution / Sexwork.)
Prostitution in the U. S.: Recent Work.: (A WMST-L discussion in January 2005 that deals with recent work about the experience of prostitutes and/or attitudes toward prostitution in the United States.)
Prostitution / Sexwork: (A four-part WMST-L discussion from April 2002 that arose in response to a query about influencing students' understanding of prostitutes/sexworkers.)
Quizzes in Women's Studies Courses?: (A WMST-L discussion from February 1995 about whether or not to give quizzes in Women's Studies courses, and what alternatives exist.)
Race and Concepts of Female Body Size: (A discussion of differing concepts of ideal body size and shape among women of different races and ethnic groups. WMST-L, November, 2004.)
Radical Feminism: (November/December 1998; 2 parts. See also Conservative Feminism, above, and Radical Feminism: Readings for a Course, below.)
Radical Feminism: Readings for a Course: (This WMST-L discussion from February 2007 offers suggested readings for a course in radical feminism and also includes some discussion of radical feminist thought about transgender issues. See also Radical Feminism, above.)
Ranking Women's Studies Journals: (A discussion of what the top journals are in Women's Studies, and the problems involved in trying to make such an assessment. WMST-L, February 2002 and October 2005.)
Rape Culture?: (A 4-part discussion of the term "rape culture"--what it means, where it originated, whether it's an appropriate term. The discussion took place on WMST-L in March 2000.)
Rape Narratives: (Suggestions for novels, memoirs, etc., that include narratives of rape. WMST-L discussion, November 2004.)
Rape Scripts and Rape Acknowledgment: (A 1994 paper by WMST-L member Arnie Kahn and two other authors)
Readings about Native American Women: (Suggestions for readings useful for students. WMST-L discussion, January 2008)
Readings by Straight, White Feminists: (A student's request gave rise to suggested readings and discussion of the request's legitimacy. WMST-L, May 2002)
Readings for a Course about Violence: (Responses to a query about course readings, especially those focused on warfare and/or male-on-male violence. WMST-L, January 2002.)
Readings for a Feminist Bat Mitzvah: (This WMST-L discussion from November 2005 offers suggested readings for a feminist bat mitzvah [a ceremony celebrating a Jewish girl's coming of age].)
Readings for Men: (Responses to a 1994 query for recommended readings about gender and/or feminism for well-intended men, along with Judith Lorber's 1995 bibliography of readings about men and feminism. Two parts.)
Readings in the Politics of Transgender: (Suggestions for readings in the politics of transgender suitable for an Intro to Women's Studies Course. WMST-L discussion, August 2009)
Readings on Race and Beauty: (Responses to a February 2001 WMST-L query for recommended readings about race and beauty.)
Recent Work on Feminist Theory: (Responses to an August 2008 query on WMST-L about recommended new books on feminist theory.)
Readings on Women's Magazines: (Suggested readings for an upper-level course on Women's Magazines and the Contstruction of Gender. WMST-L discussion, November 2006)
(Re)-Defining Activism: (A WMST-L discussion in May 2003 about works that define activism in new ways.)
Religion in a Feminist Theory Course: (A May 2006 WMST-L discussion about ways to deal with religion in a feminist theory course.)
Representation of Women in Advertising: (Suggested resources concerning the representation of women in advertising. WMST-L discussion, October 2000)
Reproductive Justice: Resources for a Course: (Suggestions for readings, films, etc. of use in an upper-level undergraduate course on Reproductive Justice. WMAT-L, May 2010)
Reproductive Technology in Courses: (Suggested resources for including a discussion of reproductive technology in gender courses. These suggestions were offered on WMST-L in June 2005.)
Requirements for the Women's Studies Major: (This discussion of the requirements for the Women's Studies major at various U.S. institutions took place on WMST-L in September 2003)
Research on Welfare Reform: (A query about research on the aftermath of welfare reform produced this WMST-L discussion in May 2000.)
Resources for a Course on Sexual Violence: (Suggested resources for a proposed course on sexual violence. WMST-L discussion, January 2009)
Resources for Teaching about Poverty: (A WMST-L discussion from August 2005 about exercises, books, and other resources for teaching students about poverty. Also of interest may be an earlier discussion, The Poverty Game as a Teaching Tool.)
Resources for Teaching about Second Wave Theories: (Books, articles, web sites, etc. that may be helpful for teaching about second wave theories. WMST-L discussion, March 2010. Also of interest may be Teaching '70s Feminism and 'Waves' of Feminism.)
Resources on Anarchist Feminism: (Resources for learning about anarchist feminism. WMST-L discussion, April 2006)
Resources on Menopause and HRT: (Suggested resources for dealing with menopause and hormone replacement therapy in a Sociology course. These suggestions were offered on WMST-L in August 2006.)
Revitalizing a Feminist Theory Course: (WMST-L discussion in December 2003 on how to revitalize a graduate course in feminist theory. In particular, how does one make such a course include not just problems but also solutions and applications to real life?)
The Rhetoric of Gender: Course Suggestions: (Some suggested resources for a course on the rhetoric of gender. WMST-L, August 2008.)
"Safe Space" in the Classroom: (How to create "safe space" for women in the classroom--and is this a good thing to do? WMST-L discussion; November 1994. See also the related file The Pedagogy of Discomfort.)
Service Learning Courses for Women's Studies: (Some suggested resources for service learning courses in Women's Studies. WMST-L discussion, October 2002. See also the 2005 discussion Service Learning in Women's Studies)
Service Learning in Women's Studies: (An April 2005 WMST-L discussion of suggested resources and strategies for service learning in Women's Studies. See also an earlier discussion, Service Learning Courses for Women's Studies.)
Sex Between Faculty and Students?: (A discussion of the contentious issue of sexual relations between faculty and students. The discussion took place on WMST-L in April 1994; it has been divided into two parts because of its length.)
"Sex" versus "Gender": (A 2-part file containing discussions of these often-confused terms from 1993 and 1997)
"Sex" versus "Gender" Revisited: (Further discussion of the terms "sex" and "gender," including their meaning(s) and some reasons that people often confuse these terms. WMST-L discussion, September/October 2006.)
Sexual Assault Statistics: (WMST-L discussion of the "1 in 4" statistic and related matters. February 2002)
Short Online Films on Transgender Issues: (Suggestions for short online films dealing with transgender issues and appropriate for use in an introductory Women's Studies course. WMST-L query, January 2009)
Short Stories: Women and Education: (Suggestions for short stories and some non-fiction useful for a course on women and education. WMST-L discussion, January 2004)
Should We Teach Camille Paglia?: (A 3-part file that also includes some discussion of sexual equality and sexual difference. April 1995)
Sizism: Resources for Teaching: (Resources for teaching about sizism/body image. A WMST-L discussion, August 2001)
Songs for Women's Issues: (Responses to several queries for songs about such issues as abortion, rape, women's safety, etc. as well as mention of several women who perform women-oriented songs. All messages appeared on WMST-L in 2000.)
Statistics on Women: (Some suggestions for where to find varied statistics on women. WMST-L discussion, August 2008)
The Struggle for Feminist Purity Threatens the Goals of Feminism: (A 1992 essay by WMST-L member Daphne Patai; originally published in the Chronicle of Higher Education)
Student Workloads: (Do we expect students to read/do too much in our courses? If we reduce the workload, are we "dumbing down" the curriculum and ultimately shortchanging our students? These questions and others formed the basis of a lengthy discussion that took place on WMST-L in October 1996. 4 parts.)
Students' Resistance to Thinking for Themselves: (WMST-L discussion in April/May 1993)
Students Who Deny That Problems Exist: (A WMST-L discussion about how to respond to students who deny that gender problems exist in media representations--or in life more generally. May 2001. See also the earlier related files, Have Women Achieved Equality? and Teaching Students to "Get It".)
Take Back the Night: (A three-part file of messages from 1995, 1997, 2001, and 2008)
Teaching about Abortion: (How to teach about abortion and other controversial issues. WMST-L discussion, March/April 1993)
Teaching about Abortion: Films: (Suggestions for films to use when teaching about abortion. WMST-L discussion, June 2008. Also of interest may be the earlier files Teaching about Abortion and Teaching about Abortion to Conservative Students.)
Teaching about Abortion to Conservative Students: (How to teach about abortion in a conservative classroom. WMST-L discussion, February 2002)
Teaching about Class: (Suggested resources for teaching about class. WMST-L discussions, May/June 1994 and August 2010)
Teaching about "Coming Out": (A September 2007 WMST-L query asked about issues such as "coming out" and "the closet," as well as about critiques of those tropes.)
Teaching About Patriarchy: (A brief discussion of how to teach about patriarchy that took place on WMST-L in August 2006. See also the earlier file Patriarchy: Use of the Term.)
Teaching about Patriarchy and the Status of Women: (Discussion of how to help students understand patriarchy and its effects on the status of women. WMST-L, February/March 2008.)
Teaching about Pornography: (Whether/how to teach about pornography in a Women's Studies course. WMST-L discussion, September 1993. See also the later file Feminist Views of Pornography.)
Teaching about Rape: (A May 1996 WMST-L discussion about rape and how to teach about it.)
Teaching about September 11: (A discussion of how to deal with the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 in a Women's Studies class. WMST-L discussion, September/November 2001. 2 parts.)
Teaching Beauty and the Beast: (Suggested strategies and resources for teaching the Beauty and the Beast story, and feminist variants. WMST-L discussions, April 2006 and January 2010.)
Teaching Butler and Haraway: (Suggestions for teaching difficult texts by theorists Judith Butler and Donna Haraway. WMST-L discussion, February 2001. See also a later file, Feminist Critiques of Judith Butler's Theories)
Teaching Language and Gender Issues to Teens: (WMST-L discussion, January 1997)
Teaching Pornography: Scholarly Articles: (A WMST-L discussion in April 2006 about scholarly articles dealing with teaching pornography. The following WMST-L files may also be of interest: Teaching About Pornography, Feminist Views of Pornography, Dealing with Sensitive Subject Matter in Class, and Dealing with Sensitive Subjects II.)
Teaching 'Pretty Woman': (Suggestions for teaching the film 'Pretty Woman' in a Women's Studies context. WMST-L discussion, September 2003.)
Teaching Sapphire's Novel Push: (A discussion of resources and strategies for teaching Sapphire's novel push. WMST-L, November 2009.)
Teaching '70s Feminism: (The challenges of teaching feminist thought and activity of the 1970s. Includes considerable discussion also of the notion of "waves" of feminism. WMST-L discussion, July 2001. 4 parts. See also the later (2002) discussion, 'Waves' of Feminism.)
Teaching Students to "Get It": (WMST-L discussion about how to help students recognize that women still face oppression. October 1999)
Teaching 'Women and the Media': (Suggestions for teaching a course on 'Women and the Media.' WMST-L, September/October 2003.)
Teaching Women's Studies to Disadvantaged Women: (Suggestions for teaching women's studies to women with histories of drug addiction and prostitution. WMST-L discussion, October 2003.)
Texts for Course on Race, Class, & Gender in U.S.: (Suggestions for texts that discuss gender fully and can be used in a Sociology course on Race, Class, and Gender in the U.S. WMST-L discussion, March/April 2004.)
Theory As Activism: (Writings that discuss theory as activism, and a consideration as well of activism as theory. WMST-L discussion, January 2004.)
Tips on Detecting and Preventing Internet Plagiarism: (Notes from a 2001 NWSA presentation by Phyllis Holman Weisbard, University of Wisconsin System Women's Studies Librarian and WMST-L member.)
Toxic Tampons: (WMST-L discussion about possible health risks from tampons. April 2001)
Transnational Feminism: Resources and Issues: (WMST-L discussion, December 2007)
University LGBT Programs: (John Younger's listing of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer studies programs has been available from WMST-L for several years. Here is the most recent web version.)
Use of the Term "Dyke": (This WMST-L discussion on the meaning and use of the term "dyke" took place in February 2005.)
Using Eminem in Women's Studies Courses: (This lengthy discussion of how/whether to use Eminem's music in Women's Studies courses took place on WMST-L in February/March 2001. 4 parts.)
Using Facebook in the Classroom: (Should professors use social media such as Facebook in their courses? This WMST-L discussion from May 2010 looks at some of the advantages and problems of using Facebook in the classroom.)
Using Literature in a Women's Studies Course: (Suggestions for how faculty can use literature in a Women's Studies course even if they are not trained in literary study. WMST-L discussion, September 2004.)
Using Persepolis in a Women's Studies Course: (Discussions about using the graphic novel Persepolis in a Women's Studies course. The messages on the first of the file's three pages appeared on WMST-L in May 2006, along with a few from September 2006 that deal with graphic novels more broadly. Page 2 includes a discussion from 2009 that considers the film as well as the novel. The messages on the third page, also from 2009, offer suggestions for an American text to pair with Persepolis.)
Widowhood from a Feminist Perspective: (Resources about widowhood, with an emphasis on feminist and international perspectives. WMST-L discussion, February 2010)
Using Wikis in Class: (Suggestions and observations about using wikis in the classroom. WMST-L discussions, April 2006 and May 2008.)
Using WMST-L's Web Interface: (Illustrated instructions for using WMST-L's web interface. The interface enables you to subscribe, unsubscribe, change your WMST-L options, read messages, search the logfiles, and more.)
The Vagina Monologues: (Three WMST-L discussions of Eve Ensler's play "The Vagina Monologues," one in February 2001, the second in July 2003, and the third in the spring of 2005. The 2005 thread also includes discussion of female genital excision.)
Videos on Intersection of Gender, Race, Class: (Suggestions for videos that show the intersection of gender identity with race, class, and national differences. WMST-L discussion, April 2002.)
Videos on Masculinity: (A request for videos illustrating the social construction of gender gave rise to a number of suggestions, many of them discussion videos on masculinity. WMST-L discussion, July 2002, supplemented by later messages.)
Violence in GLBT Relationships: (Resources for information about intimate violence in gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender relationships. WMST-L discussion, October 2004.)
The War Against Boys: (2-part WMST-L discussion of Christina Hoff Sommers' Atlantic Monthly article, "The War Against Boys." WMST-L, May/June 2000. See also a later WMST-L discussion of the backlash issue, Backlash: Girls vs. Boys.)
'Waves' of Feminism: (A lengthy WMST-L discussion from May/June 2002 that focused at the start on the book Jane Sexes It Up: True Confessions of Feminist Desire and evolved to consider as well the notion of "waves" of feminism, especially second and third-wave feminism. A few additional messages from 2002 and 2003 (including a brief third-wave bibliography) appear at the end. See also the earlier discussion Teaching '70s Feminism.
'Waves' of Feminism, II: (Appearing just a few months after most of the lengthy discussion listed directly above, this brief follow-up deals primarily with the origins of the term "third wave." WMST-L discussion, July 2002.)
'Waves' of Feminism, III: (A January 2005 discussion of so-called "third wave" feminism. The discussion arose from the lengthy discussion Young Women and "Feminism".)
Web Page Assignments in Women's Studies Classes: (Discussion of objectives and resources for web page assignments in Women's Studies classes. WMST-L discussion, September 2001)
Wedding Ceremonies: Feminist Critiques: (Suggested resources offering feminist critiques of traditional wedding ceremonies. WMST-L discussion, September 2002)
What Can I Do With a Women's Studies Major?: (WMST-L discussions in 2000 and 2003 offer some useful resources to help address this question.).
What is 'Feminist Theory'?: (WMST-L discussion in October 1997 about what we mean by and how we teach "feminist theory.")
Where to Publish Undergraduate Research: (Suggestions for where to publish undergraduate research in Women's Studies. WMST-L discussion, May 2003, with some material added later.)
Whiteness and Women: (Messages, bibliography, and exercises dealing with whiteness and women; 2 parts: 1993-94 and 1999)
White Privilege: (A five-part file. The first two parts describe and assess Peggy McIntosh's well-known work on white privilege; parts 3 and 4 focus on the question of whether Jews are considered 'white' by themselves or others; part 5 raises questions about the "white" status of other ethnic groups. Part 1 includes WMST-L messages from 1992 to 2003; parts 2, 3, and 4 date from September/October 2001; part 5 dates from July/August 2003. See also the file White Privilege II.)
White Privilege II: Further discussion of white privilege. This 3-part discussion appeared on WMST-L in January 2003 (Parts 1 & 2) and September/October 2005, May 2009, and August 2010 (Part 3). Parts 1 & 2 focus on using Peggy McIntosh's work in the classroom and consider as well whether such use should be deemed "education" or "indoctrination." See also the earlier file White Privilege.)
Who is Warren Farrell?: (Discussion of Warren Farrell, his book The Myth of Male Power, and his relation to feminism. Toward the end of the discussion, some attention is paid to men who write about men's issues from a more feminist perspective. The discussion took place on WMST-L in October 1994.)
Who Stole Feminism?: (Discussion (Fall 1994) of Christina Hoff Sommers' book, Who Stole Feminism?: How Women Have Betrayed Women. Includes a link to Laura Flanders' published critique, The "Stolen Feminism" Hoax.)
Why Not a Feminist Overhaul of Higher Education?: (A 1998 essay by WMST-L member Daphne Patai. Written in response to Vision 2000, the essay was originally published in the Chronicle of Higher Education.)
Witches: (This discussion concerning resources dealing with witches took place on WMST-L in October 2005.)
The WMST-L User's Guide: (The Source of All Wisdom)
WMST-L Digest and Index Options: (An illustrated guide explaining the various digest and index versions offered by WMST-L.)
WMST-L's Focus: An Explanation: (Why the list's focus is somewhat narrow)
Women and Disability: (Suggestions offered on WMST-L in May 2004 for recent work dealing with women and disability.)
Women and Islam: Readings/Videos: (Suggested readings and videos about women and Islam. They appeared on WMST-L in October/November/December 2001. Part 1 offers general readings; Part 2 focuses more specifically on fiction; Part 3 mentions readings that bear on the topic of feminism and Islamic law; Part 4 provides information about two videos. See also a later (2010) file, Works by and about Muslim Women.)
Women and Madness: Resources for Teaching: (Suggested readings, films, etc. for a course on Women and Madness. WMST-L discussion, May/June 1994)
Women and Physically Demanding Jobs: (Three-part WMST-L discussion in July 2001 that focused on women's performance in physically demanding jobs such as firefighter. Among the issues covered were dual standards, discrimination, differential death rates for men and women, and how to teach about such topics.)
Women and Sports: (A two-part WMST-L discussion from December 2004. Part 1 deals with literature that addresses women's experiences as athletes, while Part 2 concerns feminist analyses of sports.)
Women and the Body: (A WMST-L discussion from March/April 2006 and some additional messages from May 2008 identify sources associating women with the body.)
Women and Domestic Help: (Selected messages from a lengthy discussion about domestic labor and the complex relationship between feminism and domestic labor. The discussion took place on WMST-L in June/July 2010.)
Women and Utopias: (This discussion of women and utopias in fiction and non-fiction took place on WMST-L in March 2002.)
Women and Visual Culture: Texts: (Discussion of texts for a course on Women and Visual Culture. WMST-L, November/December 2006.)
Women and War: Suggested Readings: (A 2-part file whose suggestions include non-fiction, fiction, poetry, and drama. WMST-L, April 1993 and October 1994)
Women Buddy Films: (Responses to a WMST-L query in July 1993 about "women buddies movies" for use in courses.)
Women of Color and the Women's Movement: (A five-part WMST-L discussion that began with a query about the contributions of women of color to the women's movement. September/October 2000)
Women-Only Communities: (Suggestions for where to find information about women-only communities, including lesbian communities. WMST-L discussion, September 2004)
Women's Autobiography: (WMST-L discussions from October 1997, Winter 2000, October 2000, and August/September 2001.)
The Women's Rights Movement: Where It's Been, Where It's At: (Keynote address given in October 2001 by former WMST-L member Sonia Pressman Fuentes, a founder of NOW, WEAL, and FEW. Fuentes deals with the second wave of the women's movement: its history, her role in it, and where it is today.)
Women's Speeches for Rhetorical Analysis: (Recommendations for women's speeches that can be used by students for rhetorical analysis. WMST-L discussion, August 2002.)
Women's Studies in High School: (Information about women's studies programs in high schools. WMST-L, October 2002.)
Women's Studies for Pre-Teens: (March 1999; includes suggested resources)
"Women's Studies" vs. "Gender Studies": (Eight parts (!), including discussions that took place on WMST-L in 1993, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2008, and 2009, plus a bibliography created in 2005.)
Women, War, and Peace: (Suggested readings on women, war, and peace for a lower-division women's studies course. WMST-L discussion, September 2001. See also an earlier discussion entitled Women and War: Suggested Readings.)
Women, Womyn, Wimmin: (Brief discussion of "womyn" and "wimmin" as alternative spellings of "women." WMST-L, September 2000)
Works by and about Muslim Women: (Suggestions for works in a variety of media suitable for use in an adult education course. WMST-L discussion, June 2010. Also of interest may be a 2001 file, Women and Islam: Readings/Videos)
Writing Assignments in Large Classes: (This two-part discussion of how to handle writing assignments in large Women's Studies classes took place on WMST-L in January 2005. Also of interest may be an earlier discussion, Grading and Writing Instruction. )
Young Women and "Feminism": (A 3-part WMST-L discussion from January 2005 discussing the claim that young women are reluctant to be associated with "feminism." This issue has arisen on the list with some frequency. For some additional discussions, see, for example, Feminists Who Reject the Feminist Label, The Girl Power Movement and Feminism, Teaching '70s Feminism, and 'Waves' of Feminism.)

Please address questions or comments to: Joan Korenman

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