WS 335 Women Identified Women Office: AH 3139 Instructor: Bonnie Zimmerman Phone: 594-5239 San Diego State University Fall 1990 Hours: T & Th 1-3 BZimmerman@sciences.sdsu.edu Wed. 6-7 This course will explore historical, sociological, political, and cultural theories of lesbian existence; the influences of feminism on lesbian lives; the complexity of lesbian lives within class, race, ethnic, age, and national/international differences. We'll talk about coming out, language, codes, and passing; we'll discuss love and sexuality, families, history, community, and culture. We will look at lesbian politics, both separatist and coalitionist; we'll explore present realities and future visions. TEXTS: Available at the Aztec Bookstore: Audre Lorde, SISTER OUTSIDER Sally Gearhart, THE WANDERGROUND Available at Kinko's: Women's Studies 335 READER REQUIREMENTS: Take-home midterm 30% Take-home final 30% Group project and presentation 20% Weekly one-page reflection papers 20% EXPLANATION OF ASSIGNMENTS: 1) Take-home midterm. Due October 24th. For the midterm, you will be required to answer two essay questions from a group of questions that will be handed out in class October 17th. The questions will cover material from the readings, lectures, and films. 2) Take-home final. Due December 12th. For the final, you will be required to answer two essay questions from a group of questions that will be handed out in class December 5th. The questions will cover material from the readings and lectures, and may also incorporate your research for your group project. 3) Group project and presentation. Due November 27th and December 5th. On September 12th, I will ask everyone in the class to submit three topics of current significance to lesbians that are not adequately covered by the assigned readings. You may come up with these topics through introspection, discussion with lesbian friends, reading lesbian journals and newspapers, or any other means you like. These topics should be current and lesbian-specific. I will put these lists together, pick the topics most often mentioned, add one or two of my own if necessary, and then submit a short list to the class. We will then select between four and six (depending on the size of the class) for group presentations, and assign class members to the different groups. These groups will work together during the semester and present their research in whatever fashion they deem appropriate to the class. Everyone in the group will receive the same grade, which will be determined on the basis of both content and presentation. 4) Reflection papers. A total of ten due each week from September 5th to November 20th. Each week, you are to write a one or two page reflection paper on the readings for that week. The purpose of this assignment is twofold: to provide an incentive for keeping up with the readings, and to stimulate your thinking before class so we can have good class discussion. The point of these reflection papers is for you to comment on your responses, emotional and intellectual, to the ideas expressed in the readings. These will be graded superior, acceptable, and not acceptable. They are due only in class (they also serve as an attendance record) and cannot be handed in any other time. You cannot drop one off at 7:00, leave, and expect credit for it. There are twelve weeks of readings; ten papers total are required. Students selecting the credit/no credit option: If you receive a grade of C or better on the midterm, turn in the required reflection papers with an acceptable average, and do at least an average job on your group project, you will not need to write a final examination. COURSE OUTLINE: Aug. 29 Introduction Sept. 5 Identity and Coming Out Lehmann, What It Means to Love Another Woman Golden, Diversity and Variability in Women's Sexual Identities Rich, Compulsary Heterosexuality and Lesbian Existence Radicalesbians, The Woman Identified Woman Bunch, Lesbians in Revolt Jay, Coming Out as Process Lorde, The Transformation of Silence into Language and Action (S/O) Sept. 12 Lesbian Herstory I Schwarz, Researching Lesbian History Allen, Beloved Women: Lesbians in American Indian Culture Sappho, Poems SLIDE SHOW Sept. 19 Lesbian Herstory II Smith-Rosenberg, The Female World of Love and Ritual Cook, Female Support Networks and Political Activism Anon, Sixty Places to Talk, Dance, and Play Hull, Under the Days: The Buried Life and Poetry of Angelina Weld Grimke Sept. 26 Before Stonewall Bullough, Lesbianism in the 1920s and 1930s Nestle, Sexual Courage in the Fifties Davis & Kennedy, Oral History and the Study of Sexuality: Buffalo, New York, 1940-1960 Lorde, Tar Beach FILM: BEFORE STONEWALL Oct. 3 Sexuality, Relationships, and Family Lorde, The Uses of the Erotic (S/O) Katz, Smash Phallic Imperialism! Hollibaugh & Moraga, What We're Rollin Around in Bed With Sang, Lesbian Relationships: A Struggle toward Partner Equality Kelpfisz, Women Without Children Parker, Gay Parenting Beck, Daughters and Mothers Pollack, Lesbian Mothers: A Lesbian-Feminist Perspective on Research Oct. 10 Lesbian Politics Spinster, The Evolution of Lesbian Separatist Consciousness Lee, For the Love of Separatism Bunch, Learning from Lesbian Separatism Bunch, Speaking Out, Reaching Out Epstein, Direct Action: Lesbians Lead the Movement Oct. 17 Lesbian Culture Lorde, Poetry is not a Luxury (S/O) Kaye, Culture Making: Lesbian Classics Smith, Toward a Black Feminist Criticism Tilchen, Lesbians and Women's Music Hammond, Class Notes Oct. 24 Creating Lesbian Community Brody, Are We There Yet? Some Historical Background Groschwitz, Practical Economics for a Women's Community Cheney, Lesbian Land exerpts Zipter, Who's at Bat, Jocks or Feminists? Pearlman, The Saga of Continuing Clash in Lesbian Community Lorde, An Open Letter to Mary Daly (S/O) Lorde, The Master's Tools Will Never Dismantle the Master's House (S/O) Oct. 31 Difference: Theories Lorde, Age, Race, Class, and Sex (S/O) Lorde, The Uses of Anger (S/O) Moraga, La Guera Anzaldua, La Prieta Lugones, Playfulness, "World"-Travelling, and Loving Perception Frye, On Being White Cross et al, Face-to-Face, Day-to-Day--Racism CR Nov. 6 Difference: Particulars Lorde, Scratching the Surface (S/O) Kaye, Some Notes on Jewish Lesbian Identity Espin, Issues of Identity in the Psychology of Latina Lesbians Copper, The View from Over the Hill: Notes on Ageism between Lesbians Clare, Think Twice Before You Call Me Courageous Dykewomon, the real fat womon poems Weston & Rofel, Sexuality, Class, and Conflict in a Lesbian Workplace Nov. 13 Global Lesbianism From Connexions: An Authentic Identity & Rainbow Solidarity France: Political Lesbianism Argentina: Shrouded in Silence I Am Everything South Africa and Lesotho The Lavender Kimono So Full of Longing Into a Woman's World Trial and a Marriage Bury Us Together Uma Khayal et al, Lesbians in India Freedman, Lesbian in the Promised Land Nov. 20 Visions and Fantasies Gearhart, The Wanderground Nov. 27 Group Presentations Dec. 5 Group Presentations