Feminist Pedagogy

Feminist PedagogyENGL 29001DefinitionA feminist approach in composition that focuses on questions of difference and dominance in written language.Flynn, Elizabeth. Composing as a Woman. Feminism and Composition: A Critical Sourcebook. Kirsch, Gail E., ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martins, 20032Focusemphasize[s] that males and females differ in their developmental processes and in their interactions with othersinvolves reading texts written by women, and taking care to understand those texts are not simply appropriations of texts written by menFlynn, Elizabeth. Composing as a Woman. Feminism and Composition: A Critical Sourcebook. Kirsch, Gail E., ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martins, 2003. 3HistoryDeveloped in the 1970s as a part of the civil rights movements of the 1960s.Part of the second wave of feminism.Response to the patriarchal and androcentric nature of western culture in which power structures, including the written word, are controlled implicitly and explicitly by men.Moar, Faye Spencer. Part One: Introduction. Feminism and Composition: A Critical Sourcebook. Kirsch, Gail E., ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martins, 2003.4Practical ApplicationA feminist instructor will take into account the implicit differences between male and female writers and teach appropriately.Feminist instructors try to create a supportive classroom environment and validate students experiences from both the male and female perspectives.Jarratt, Susan C. Feminism and Composition: The Case for Conflict. Feminism and Composition: A Critical Sourcebook. Kirsch, Gail E., ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martins, 20035Practical ApplicationProductive feminist pedagogy should avoid favoring or focusing on an androcentric direction of teaching while avoiding critiquing the androcentric viewpoint.Jarratt, Susan C. Feminism and Composition: The Case for Conflict. Feminism and Composition: A Critical Sourcebook. Kirsch, Gail E., ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martins, 20036AdvantagesEncourages a differing perspective from mainstream culture.Encourages broader understanding that improves social cohesion in the classroom.Teaches students to question and evaluate the world around them, especially implicit cultural attitudes they may have taken for granted.Give voice to the voicelessHiatt, Mary P. The Feminine Style: Theory and Fact. Feminism and Composition: A Critical Sourcebook. Kirsch, Gail E., ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martins, 2003.7CriticismPotential to alienate members of the classroom.Extremely narrow perspective. Discourages respect for tradition.Alienation: Pedagogy in which a "soapbox" stance may occur easily;How can one objectively evaluate aspects of a society in which they are a part?;Rather than liberating student thought, teachers may replace a cultural bias with a new "anti" cultural bias.

Tradition:Questioning establishment principles encourages unrest; what good authors have been ignored to be "inclusive?

8Response to CriticismWas never intended to be the sole pedagogy for the classroom experience.Alienation occurs when the focus is on criticizing perspectives. Proper feminist pedagogy is about broadening experiences and bridging understanding.The female perspective is a part of tradition; it has simply been ignored.Flynn, Elizabeth. Composing as a Woman. Feminism and Composition: A Critical Sourcebook. Kirsch, Gail E., ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martins, 2003.Sullivan, Patricia A. Feminism and Methodology in Composition Studies. Feminism and Composition: A Critical Sourcebook. Kirsch, Gail E., ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martins, 2003.9