Thursday 1/17

Business:

Talked about enrollment issues, future fem. theory courses, and an upcoming conference focusing on the subject of human trafficking (info to be posted on the blackboard). Prof. Banner made clear that the majority of her lectures will not be derived from the texts. Nor are they structured as bullet-points... The methodological differences between science and humanities will be discussed in lecture and in discussion section -- her strategy includes pop quizzes.

The students took an ungraded pop quiz from the reading.

* patriarchy
* feminism
* hegemonic masculinity
* enlightenment


There is an argument being made that patriarchy no longer exists.

Talked about cliterodectomy; began in tribal societies as a means to keep women under control. The subject would come up more if focus of course fell outside of America or western cultures. Women carry out and enforce practice, but women reinforce oppressive regime.

Ideas:

Are we a peaceful species? Are we determined by our genetics?

The TAs will talk about the Kinsey scale in section.

Back to the 18th century.
Constitution in America: "We hold these truths..."
Written by Jefferson. Know this as a member of the ongoing debate about what is constitutional. WOMEN are left out of the declaration. Indentured servants, children, also left out.

Discussion of founding fathers and their views of women, how they treated their wives.l she is biographically oriented.

Common law, precedent law established. Discussed how similar and dissimilar the legal systems in America, France and other cultures have been established and continue to operate.
Single Woman. You have full rights.
Covered Woman. Your entire self is determined by your husband. No rights to property, children. Those was broke down. Laws involving relationships are state laws.

Enlightenment.
Gave an overview. Framework. The great age if secularism in European culture. Enlightenment is anti-clerical. Deists... Agnostics. God is like a clockmaker. He made the heavens and the earth and let it run on its own. Philosophs. Major thinkers Voltaire, Diderot and Rousseau, Montesquieu. There are natural laws that govern individuals. Truths. Self evident. Endowed by our creator with natural rights. Inalienable means absolutely can't be taken away from them. Life. Liberty. The pursuit of happiness.
Out of this comes representative government... But they were not democratic (one man, one vote).


Salons.
Run by women aristocrats... Intellectual discussions. Marriages were arranged, older men, had affairs, some younger women had discreet affairs as well... Lacked puritanical lens.

Fathers appearances...
she believes that appearance matter.

Jefferson was 6 feet with flaming red hair... She's still working on what red hair means. Slave owner.

Franklin, medium height, great gourmet and connoisseur of "randy male culture." Known for his pornography. Wrote advice to a young man on choosing a mistress. Poor forms of birth control. Get a woman past menopause, besides which all cats look alike in the dark.

Adams was Puritan.