Revolution & Feminism in the Americas

Discovery Core Experience: I&S Course

photo credit: Matilde Teran, Ms. Magazine online

BCORE 107

60-Second Syllabus: Revolution & Feminism in the Americas

About This Course:

Why do people organize revolutions? What are revolutions? Do all revolutionary movements need to be armed? What role do women play in revolutions? What is feminism? Why do women and non-binary/trans people organize as feminists? Can men be feminists? (Yes!) What sorts of issues are important to feminists? This class will address these and other timely questions, focusing on cases from throughout the Americas, including Latinx communities outside of their homelands. We will look at all sorts of ways that people articulate their revolutionary demands, including as muralists, musicians, union activists, guerrilla soldiers, and more. We will also look at feminist movements, especially those related to reproductive rights and LGBTQ+ rights.

Why Should I Take This Course?

I have been teaching at UWB since 2007 and have taught a Discovery Core every year since then except for one. In other words, I am VERY committed to pre-major students and have a lot of experience. I have written/edited three books about revolution and feminism in the Americas. Students who anticipate going into Business or STEM fields should get out of your comfort zones and take a class that you won’t have the opportunity to take once you get locked on your major paths. This class will introduce you to a lot of majors and meta majors you may not know exist and your pre-major years should really be about discovery! Students of Latinx descent and/or women and/or trans/non-binary folks will likely feel themselves represented in the curriculum in way you may not have prior. That said, ALL students are welcome!

Selected Texts & Films:

There are two required books and a collection of individual chapters and articles.

One book is a memoir: Something Fierce: Memoirs of a Revolutionary Daughter by Carmen Aguirre and the other is a children’s book, ¡Si, Se Puede!/Yes, We Can!: Janitor Strike in L.A by Diana Cohn, illustrated by Francisco Delgado.

We will also watch some films in and before class.

Dr. Julie Shayne (She/Her/Hers)

School of Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences

About Dr. Shayne:

  • BA & MA Women's Studies, San Francisco State University
  • PhD Sociology, UC Santa Barbara
  • Teaching Professor
  • Faculty Coordinator, Gender, Women & Sexuality Studies
  • Want to learn more about me? Visit my faculty bio here.

Contact:

"I consider myself an ally to marginalized students; 'an unafraid educator with and for undocumented students and families.'" – Dr. Shayne