RS 8: Islam, Gender, and Modernity
- M-R 12:30-1:50 in HSSB 1215
- Course Instructor: Claire Robison clairerobison@umail.ucsb.edu
- Office Hours: 2pm on Tues & Thurs or by appointment in HSSB 3043
Course Structure
Week 1: Aug 4th-7th
Mon Aug 4th:
- In class: Introduction to the main issues of studying Islam, Gender, and Modernity
- Reading: John Esposito, What Everyone Needs to Know About Islam: pp 3-14, 18-22, 48-50, 61-62: Esposito Reading 1
Tues Aug 5th:
- In class: Introduction to Islamic tradition and gender, historical and contemporary
- Reading: John Esposito, What Everyone Needs to Know About Islam: pp 95-105, 158-162, 166-173: Esposito Reading 2
Wed Aug 6th:
- In class: ‘Honor Diaries’ film and discussion
- Reading: Short article by Lila Abu-Lughod, Do Muslim Women Need Saving?: http://ideas.time.com/2013/11/01/do-muslim-women-need-saving/
Thurs Aug 7th:
- In class: Islam and European Colonialism
- Reading: Harem Years Introduction and Part 1: 7-32
- Quiz 1 on reading from Week 1
Week 2: Aug 11th-14th
Mon Aug 11th:
- In class: Egypt in Huda Sharawi’s Time
- Reading: Harem Years Part 2: 33-61
Tues Aug 12th:
- In class: Feminism and Growth of Women’s Salons in early 20th c Egypt
- Reading: Harem Years Part 3: 62-82
- Quiz 2 on Harem Years Parts 2 & 3
Wed Aug 13th:
- In class: ‘Me and the Mosque’ film and discussion
- Reading: Harem Years Part 4: 83-111
Thurs Aug 14th:
- In class: Successes of Women’s Rights Advocates in 20th c Egypt
- Reading: Harem Years Epilogue 112-137
- Quiz 3 on Harem Years Part 4 & Epilogue
Week 3: Aug 18th-21st
Mon Aug 18th:
- In class: Independence Movements and Post-colonial Muslim-Majority Nations
- Reading: Year of the Elephant Introduction, xix-xxxv
Tues Aug 19th:
- In class: Patriarchy and Structures of Home Life
- Reading: Year of the Elephant Chapters 1 & 2: 1-25
- Quiz 4 on Year of the Elephant Introduction & Ch. 1-2
Wed Aug 20th:
- In class: Discussion on Final Research Papers
- Reading: Year of the Elephant Ch. 3: 26-47
Thurs Aug 21st:
- In class: Discussion on Film Presentations
- Reading: Year of the Elephant Ch. 4: 48-61 and news article: Zahir Janmohamed, The Lost Audacity of Hope. http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/the-lost-audacity-of-hope/article4072373.ece
- Quiz 5 on Year of the Elephant Ch. 3-4
Week 4: Aug 25th-28th
Mon Aug 25th:
- In class: Changing Scenarios for Conservative Muslim Women
- Reading: Year of the Elephant Ch. 5: 62-81
Tues Aug 26th:
- In class: Modern Islamic Reform Movements and the Rise of Islamism
- Reading: John Esposito, What Everyone Needs to Know About Islam: pp. 53-57, 63-71, 105-109, 182-188, 212-21: Esposito Reading 3
- Quiz 6 on Year of the Elephant Ch. 5 & Esposito Reading
Wed Aug 27th:
- In class: The Rise of Islamism continued
- Reading:
- Leila Ahmed, A Quiet Revolution: The Veil’s Resurgence from the Middle East to America: Leila Ahmed Quiet Revolution
- Reconstructing Self and Society: Javanese Muslim Women and “The Veil”: Veiling in Java
Thurs Aug 28th:
- In class: Introduction to Modern Iran
- Reading: Lipstick Jihad Introduction & Ch. 1: Secret Garden (1-28)
- Quiz 7 on articles and Lipstick Jihad Introduction & Ch. 1
Week 5: Sept 1st-4th
Mon Sept 1st:
- No class: Labor Day Holiday.
- Reading: Lipstick Jihad Ch. 2: Homecoming (31-64)
Tues Sept 2nd:
- In class: Life under a Modern Theocratic Government
- Reading: Lipstick Jihad Ch. 3: We Don’t Need No Revolution (67-91) & 4: My Country is Sick (95-121)
- Quiz 8 on Lipstick Jihad Ch. 2-4
Wed Sept 3rd:
- In class: ‘Be Like Others’ film and discussion
- Reading: Lipstick Jihad Ch. 5: Election (125-148)
Thurs Sept 4th:
- In class: ‘Tales of the Waria’ film
- Reading: Lipstick Jihad Ch. 6: I’m Too Sexy for My Veil (151-176)
- Quiz 9 on Lipstick Jihad Ch. 5-6
Week 6: Sept 8th-11th
Mon Sept 8th:
- No class: Email a 1-page outline of your research essay, including the topic, bibliography, and basic points in outline form
- Reading: Lipstick Jihad Ch. 7: Love in a Time of Struggle (179-202)
Tues Sept 9th:
- In class: Discuss Lipstick Jihad
- Reading: 8: Summer of the Cockroach (205-219)
Wed Sept 10th:
- In class: Concluding discussion on Lipstick Jihad
- Reading: 9: Not Without My Mimosa (223-246)
- Quiz 10 on Lipstick Jihad Ch. 7-9
Thurs Sept 11th:
- In class: Film Presentations
Assessment
10% Participation
20% Film Presentation
35% Reading Quizzes (10 total)
35% Final Research Paper (5 pg reflection based on 3+ sources). Due in my inbox Sept 16th by 5pm.
Film Project Details
Films for the Film Presentation:
- Persepolis
- Wadjda
- Reluctant Fundamentalist
- View from a Grain of Sand
- Two Women
The class will be divided into 5 groups and assigned one film each. On the last day of class (Thursday, Sept 11th) each group will give a 10 min. presentation on their assigned film, including a synopsis (2 min), response and analysis based on the issues we have discussed in class (4-5 min), and a short excerpt from the film (3-4 min) illustrating the points you make.
Final Essay Details
You will be given a choice of 5 topics related to the issues we have discussed during the course. Choose one and draw from its corresponding bibliography to write a research paper. 5 pgs, double-spaced with footnotes and a bibliography. Due Sept 16th by 5 pm in my inbox.
Class Participation Expectations
Class participation means actual human interaction. No laptop/smartphone/electronic device use during class. Bring a notebook or pad of paper for taking notes. All lecture power-points will be posted on Gauchospace for later consultation.
Join the conversation. Bring your thoughts, questions, and critiques to class. Let’s make the course an interesting conversation with a variety of Muslim women’s voices.
Extra Online Resources
http://www.sistersinislam.org.my/
http://www.wisemuslimwomen.org/muslimwomen/
http://www.kpemberton.com/blog.html
https://twitter.com/aminawadud