Page 15 - Šolsko polje, XXXI, 2020, 5-6: Teaching Feminism, ed. Valerija Vendramin
P. 15
Teaching Feminism:
Between Marginalisation and Feminist Persistence
Nina Perger, Faculty of Social Sciences, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Metka Mencin, Faculty of Social Sciences, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Veronika Tašner, Faculty of Education, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Introduction
Feminism1 in the academy (researching, teaching, publishing) has
a relatively short history. The first institutionalised women’s stud-
ies course was held in the late 1950s in Australia: Dawson’s course
Women in a Changing World (Becchio, 2020). In the late 1960s and ear-
ly 1970s, courses which placed women’s lives and experiences at the centre
of researching and teaching (i.e. women’s studies) were introduced in the
academic institutions in the United States of America, originally more
as “an ensemble of courses listed on bulletin boards and often taught for
free by faculty and community leaders”, and later as an organised enti-
ty (Wiegman, 2002, p. 18): the first accredited women’s studies course in
the USA was established in 1969, with the number of courses in universi-
ties rising steeply over the next couple of years. In the early 1970s, soon af-
ter the institutionalisation of women’s studies in the USA, the first extra-
mural courses2 were developed in Britain (see Bird, 2003, p. 265),3 and in
1974 courses called “Women in Society” were introduced in the sociology
department (Bird, 2003). In France, where feminist publicist activity was
extremely fruitful, the first institutionalised women’s studies course also
1 In this article, the term women’s signifies the field of study while feminist represents the ap-
proach to the field.
2 Courses, connected with the “normal” courses/programmes of a college or university, but
outside it (Bird, 2003).
3 According to Humm, the first women’s studies course in Britain was Juliet Mitchell’s
short course entitled “The Role of Women in Society” at the “Anti University” (Humm &
Bird, 2003, pp. 265, 284).
https://doi.org/10.32320/1581-6044.31(5-6)13-29 13
Original scientific article
Between Marginalisation and Feminist Persistence
Nina Perger, Faculty of Social Sciences, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Metka Mencin, Faculty of Social Sciences, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Veronika Tašner, Faculty of Education, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Introduction
Feminism1 in the academy (researching, teaching, publishing) has
a relatively short history. The first institutionalised women’s stud-
ies course was held in the late 1950s in Australia: Dawson’s course
Women in a Changing World (Becchio, 2020). In the late 1960s and ear-
ly 1970s, courses which placed women’s lives and experiences at the centre
of researching and teaching (i.e. women’s studies) were introduced in the
academic institutions in the United States of America, originally more
as “an ensemble of courses listed on bulletin boards and often taught for
free by faculty and community leaders”, and later as an organised enti-
ty (Wiegman, 2002, p. 18): the first accredited women’s studies course in
the USA was established in 1969, with the number of courses in universi-
ties rising steeply over the next couple of years. In the early 1970s, soon af-
ter the institutionalisation of women’s studies in the USA, the first extra-
mural courses2 were developed in Britain (see Bird, 2003, p. 265),3 and in
1974 courses called “Women in Society” were introduced in the sociology
department (Bird, 2003). In France, where feminist publicist activity was
extremely fruitful, the first institutionalised women’s studies course also
1 In this article, the term women’s signifies the field of study while feminist represents the ap-
proach to the field.
2 Courses, connected with the “normal” courses/programmes of a college or university, but
outside it (Bird, 2003).
3 According to Humm, the first women’s studies course in Britain was Juliet Mitchell’s
short course entitled “The Role of Women in Society” at the “Anti University” (Humm &
Bird, 2003, pp. 265, 284).
https://doi.org/10.32320/1581-6044.31(5-6)13-29 13
Original scientific article
