123223 SE Literature Seminar / BA Paper / MA British/Irish/New English (2019S)

In this course, we will examine various literary and cinematic portrayals of abused women, thus tracing the history of female oppression, misogyny, and sexism. We will discuss painful stories of girls and women who have fallen victim to patriarchy and certain “norms” and standards imposed on them. Focusing on such issues as (mental) disability, racism, pregnancy, abortion, motherhood, lesbianism, domestic violence, rape, harassment, and the female body, we will analyze the ways patriarchy and sexism reduce women to objects that belong to men. Finally, we will discuss how these multiple stories of gender inequality can be used to fight sexism and address the problem of women’s empowerment and freedom.

PLEASE NOTE: This seminar will be accompanied by the Schreibassistenz program offered by the Centre for Teaching and Learning (CTL). In this context, students are required to meet with a writing assistant twice (approx. 50 minutes per meeting) to discuss and receive feedback on their written assignments which they will then, after having sufficient time to rework them, have to submit as part of the seminar credit requirements.