Gender Studies: Feminist Theory & Perspectives

Introduction to Gender Studies

• This course is part of the NPTEL program, supported by the Ministry of Education, Government of India.
• Each week features five video lectures across a 12-week schedule.
• The course aims to understand gender as a central lens for social categories that influence everyday life.
• It addresses gaps in academic inquiries, particularly in the humanities and social sciences.
• The course will provide an overview of feminist theoretical scholarship and its mission in contemporary times, enabling a comprehensive international understanding of gender, sexuality, and culture.

Core Concepts and Theories

• The course draws on feminist perspectives and critiques of androcentrism, incorporating scholars like Simone de Beauvoir.
• It utilizes methodologies that connect the interdisciplinary fields of humanities and social sciences.
• Post-structuralist theories are applied to challenge and deconstruct traditional gender norms.
• Thinkers such as Toni Morrison, Michel Foucault, and Judith Butler are included to critique totalizing constructions of gender and the experiences of women.
• Intersectionality is examined to address issues of race, class, and the diverse experiences of women across the globe.

Course Focus and Objectives

• The course complexity will address the concept of gender across various spectra, including transgender studies
• It delves into masculinity studies and queer theory to explore identities and expressions beyond traditional gender binaries.
• A central aim is to critically analyze the concept of gender without resorting to biological determinism.
• It employs multiple and complex frameworks developed across the humanities and social sciences to understand and unpack preconceived notions.
• Focus is placed on the pervasive nature of gender in structuring every field of social and cultural activity.

Contemporary Issues

• The course explores contemporary discourses on gender, including virtual reality, politics, and new reproductive possibilities.
• Explores topics such as domesticity, limits of the human, and post-humanism through critical lenses.
• Notable figures like Lucy Irigaray, Judith Butler, and others contribute to arguments about challenging established norms.

Learning Outcomes

• Participants are encouraged to engage creatively and critically with these ideas.
• The goal is to collaboratively foster research and a deeper understanding of diverse theoretical perspectives on gender.
• Participants who successfully complete the course will receive a certificate.