IRPS 375Women and Politics

In exploring what constitutes political participation and activity, Women and Politics begins with a brief examination of feminist theories, feminism and their current applications in Western and non-Western societies. This is followed by consideration of women and politics in three areas of political engagement- grassroots, international & global arenas, and national leadership - and the impact of women's activities in these contexts. Motivating factors such as development, security, armed conflict, and economic stability from the background and are explicitly probed, while examining women's political participation. The outcomes, and consequences of political decision-making, methods, strategies, and tactics, for women are also cornerstone of this course. Women in the roles of proactive policy-makers and passive, policy-recipients are considered. Course goals encompass skill set development including writing/editing, reading comprehension/interpretation, critical thinking/analysis and problem solving.