WomenandGenderStudiesProgram,GeorgetownUniversity

Women'sInternationalHumanRightsWGST-253,Fall2016

M/W,12.30—1.45pm,White-Gravenor201AProfessor: SiobhánMcGuirk

sm3276@georgetown.eduOfficeHours: M/W,11am—12pm ICC456

OrbyappointmentviaSkype(username=SiobhánMcGuirk)

Responsetime: Iwillrespondtoemailswithin24hours

Iwillreturncourseworkwithin1week

I.COURSEDESCRIPTION

Fordecades,feministsandotheradvocateshavecampaignedtoestablishhumanrightsinitiativesandagendasthatprotectandrespondtowomen’sneeds,atbothnationalandinternationallevels.Thiscourseexplorestheworkofactivists,institutions,advocatesandscholarsaroundtheworldtocriticallyassessthesuccessesandfailuresofhumanrightsframeworksinadvancingwomen'srights.Studentswillexaminethewaysinwhichpolitics,religion,culture,andsocialcontextshavecontributedtocurrentpracticesanddebatespertainingtowomenandgenderindifferentpartsoftheglobe.Wewillexaminecountry-specificcasesofhumanrightsabuses—includinggenderedviolence,trafficking,exclusionsfromdevelopmentinitiatives,restrictionsofreproductiveandsexualfreedoms—andthedifferentmeanspeoplehaveadoptedinordertocombatthem.CourseObjectives

Bytheendofthesemester,seminarparticipantswillbeableto:

• Explainthephilosophical,politicalandinstitutionalgroundingofwomen’shumanrights,includingknowledgeofkeyconventionsandagreements.

• Describesomeofthediversesocio-cultural,political,andreligiouscontextsthathaveshapedkeydebatesconcerningwomen’sinternationalhumanrightsovertime.

• Assessanddiscusstensionsbetween:universalismandculturalrelativity;internationallawandstatesovereignty;andindividualandcollectiverights,withreferencetowomen.

• Applyintersectional,postcolonialandotherfeministanalysestoquestionsofhumanrightsabuses.

• Criticallyengagewithexistingcampaigneffortsadvocatingforwomen’shumanrights.

UNDevelopmentFundforWomen,poster,byLaRochelle/Wajdowic

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II.EXPECTATIONSANDASSESSMENT

AttendanceandActiveParticipation(20%)

Youarerequiredtoattendallclasses,withexceptionsonlyinthecaseofmedicalneedorobservationofreligiousholidays.Emailmeinadvanceifyoumustmissaclass,andarrangetocatchuponreadings,notesanddiscussionsfromaclassmate.Iwillnotpostlectureslidesonline.Iexpectyoutocometoclasshavingreadallassignedmaterialscloselyandcarefully,andpreparedtoengageinlivelydiscussionoftheideas,arguments,andevidencepresentedinthereadings.Wewillhavelargeandsmallgroupdiscussionsduringclasstime,sobringyourmarkeduptextsandnoteswithyoutoeachclass.Iencourageandexpectactivelisteningandrespectfulinteractionsbetweenallstudents.Tothisend,Idiscouragethecontinuoususeofcomputersandotherelectronicdevices.Ifyoumustuseacomputer,youmustonlyuseitforrelevantpurposes.Anystudentusingtheircellphonesinclasswillbeaskedtoleave.Ifyoumissclasses,orarehabituallylatetoclass,yourgradewillsuffer.In-ClassQuizzes(15%)

Iwillsetoccasional,5-10minutequizzesthroughoutthesemester.Thesewillconsistofdefinitions,shortanswerquestions,orshortreflectionprompts.Yourbestfiveresultswillbecountedforyourgrade.TakeHomeMid-Term(20%)

TheexamwillbepostedonWednesdayOct.5,andwillbedueWednesdayOct.12,by5pm.Fulldetailswillbeprovidedclosertothetime,butIexpectresponsestobe3-4pagesinlength(Arialpt.11-font,1.5-spaced,1-inchmargins).ResearchProject(45%)

Throughoutthesemester,youwillwriteasubstantialresearchpaperonaspecificviolationofwomen’shumanrightswithinaparticularcountry.Youwillprepareapapertopicstatement(twopageswithadraftbibliography)forSeptember21,andadetaileddraft(atleast10pageswithabibliography)byNovember7,whichwillbereviewedbytwoofyourclassmatesaswellasbyme.Thefinalpaper(15-20pages,Arialpt.11-font,1.5-spaced,1-inchmargins)isdueonDecember14by5pm.Eachstudentwillalsogiveapresentationtotheclassontheirpapertopicattheendofthesemester.Yourgradewillbebasedontheintermediatestepsofthepaper:proposal,outlineanddraft(10%);presentation:(10%);finalpaper(25%).Note:Writtenworkisdue,withoutexception,attheindicateddeadline,inhardcopy(notemailed)withtheexceptionofyourfinalpaper.Youmustcontactmeatleast24-hoursinadvanceifyoumust,forsomereason,handinanassignmentlate.Iwillgrantextensionsonlyinexceptionalcircumstances.Putyournameandapagenumberoneverypage,andstapleyourpapertogether.UseArialpt.11-font,1.5-spaced,1-inchmargins.

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ReviewandGrading

FollowingGeorgetownguidelinesIwillgradeyourworkas:A:Excellent//B:Good//C:Adequate//D:Unsatisfactoryorincomplete//F:Fail.

CodeofHonorandAcademicIntegrityStudentsmustcomplywiththeGeorgetownUniversityhonorcode,whichyoucanfindat:http://www.georgetown.edu/honor/sanctionguide.html.Georgetowntreatsplagiarismasaseriousoffense.Ifyouareworriedaboutyourunderstandingofplagiarism,talktomebeforesubmittingyourfirstassignment.III.TEXTSANDSYLLABUS

Therearenorequiredtextbooksforthiscourse.Assignedtextsandmediaarefromdiversesources,providingyouwithaninterdisciplinaryperspectivetocoursethemes.Ihaveplacedreadingsonelectronicreserve(sendmeane-mailifyouencounteranyproblemswiththeelectronicreservesduringthesemester)oronBlackboardasalinkoradocument.ShouldIneedtomakeanychangestothesyllabus,IwillannouncetheminclassandviaBlackboard–besurethatyouhaveaccesstothiscourseonBlackboardandthatyouchecke-mailregularly.

IV.CLASSSCHEDULE

Allassignmentsandreadingsaredueonthedateindicated.Wheretofindtexts?Bb=BlackboardDocuments//Res=BlackboardCourseReserves//Link=BborclickforaccessWeek1:IntroducingtheCourseandWhatAreHumanRights?WAugust31 GettingStarted:Aims,ExpectationsandResponsibilities

• Excerptsfrom“HumanRights”InTheStanfordEncyclopediaofPhilosophy.Revised2014.[Bb]

Week2:WhatAreHumanRights?MSept5 Noclass:HappyLaborDay!

• Henkin,Louis(1990)“Introduction”InTheAgeofRights(NewYork:ColumbiaUniversityPress),pp.1—10.[Bb]

• Mutua,Makau(2013)“TheMetaphoroftheSavior”[subsectionofChapter1]inHumanRights:APoliticalandCulturalCritique,pp.31–38.[Bb]

• “About”onHumanRightsWatchwebsite[Link]WSept7 GenderingHumanRights

• Charlesworth,Hilary(1994)“WhatareWomen’sHumanRights?”InHumanRightsofWomen[Bb]

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Week3:ProtectingandInstitutionalizingWomen’sHumanRightsMSept12 Declarations,CovenantsandConventions

• SKIM: UniversalDeclarationofHumanRights[Link]InternationalCovenantonCivilandPoliticalRights[Link]ConventiononEliminationofAllFormsofDiscriminationAgainstWomen[Link]BeijingDeclarationandPlatformforAction[Link]

• Snyder,Margaret(2006).“UnlikelyGodmother:TheUNandtheGlobalWomen’sMovement”InGlobalFeminism:TransnationalWomen’sActivism,OrganizingandHumanRights,pp.24—50.[Bb]

WSept14 Women’sHumanRightsActivisms(Overview)

• Hawkesworth,Mary(2006).“GlobalFeministCircuits:ContemporaryContestations”InGlobalizationandFeministActivism,pp.111—145.[Res]

• PODCAST:“Women'shumanrightsdefendersunderthreat”TheGuardianpodcast.2April2015.[Link]

Week4:TensionsandDebates:Religion,CultureandGenderEqualityIMSept19 CulturalRelativism

• Afkhami,Mahnaz(2000).“CulturalRelativismandWomen’sHumanRights”[Link].• Walley,ChristineJ.(1997)"Searchingfor‘Voices’:Feminism,Anthropology,andthe

GlobalDebateoverFemaleGenitalOperations."CulturalAnthropology12(3):405—438.[Bb]

WSept21 StateResponsibilityandSovereignty

• AhmedAn‐Na’Im,Abdullahi(1994)“StateResponsibilitytoChangeReligiousandCustomaryLaws.”InHumanRightsofWomen,pp.167—188.[Bb]

• AmnestyInternational(2004)“MakingRightsaReality:DutyofStatestoAddressViolenceAgainstWomen.”pp.5-20.[Bb]

ResearchPapertwo-pageproposaldueinclass(hardcopy),Wednesday9/21. Week5:TensionsandDebates:Religion,CultureandGenderEqualityIIMSept26 WhoseRights?

• DellerRoss,Susan(2008)“ConflictingHumanRightsUnderInternationalLaw:FreedomofReligionversusWomen’sEqualityRights.”InWomen’sHumanRights,pp.115—134.[Bb]

• FILM:AGirlintheRiver:ThePriceofForgivenessDir:SharmeenObaid-Chinoy.[Res]WSept28 WhoShouldIntervene?

• FirstLadyLauraBushandPresidentBush(2004)“EffortsToGloballyPromoteWomen'sHumanRights.”March12,2004.[Link]

• Wali,Sima(2002)“Afghanistan:TruthandMythology”InWomenforAfghanWomen:ShatteringMythsandClaimingtheFuture,pp.1—14.[Res.]

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• Abu-Lughod,Lila(2002)."DoMuslimWomenReallyNeedSaving?AnthropologicalReflectionsonCulturalRelativismandItsOthers."AmericanAnthropologist104(3):738-790.[Bb]

Week6:MarriageandFamilyRightsMOct3 ViewsonMarriage

• Oppermann,Brenda(2006).“TheImpactofLegalPluralismonWomen’sStatus:AnExaminationofMarriageLawsinEgypt,SouthAfrica,andtheUnitedStates.”HastingsWomen’sLawJournal17:65—92.[Bb]

• Narayan,Uma(1997).“Cross-CulturalConnections,Border-Crossings,and‘DeathbyCulture’:ThinkingaboutDowry-MurdersinIndiaandDomesticViolenceMurdersintheUS”InDislocatingCultures:Identities,TraditionsandThirdWorldFeminisms,pp.83—117.[Bb]

WOct5 InClassDebate:NGOsandChildMarriageChooseone(wewilldiscussanddebatetheseinclass):

• “EndingChildMarriage:USAIDVisionforAction”(2012)USAID[Link]• “MarryingTooYoung:EndChildMarriage,”USAID(2012)[Link]• “TheRighttoDecideIf,WhenandWhomtoMarry:ObligationsoftheStateunder

CEDAWandOtherInternationalHumanRightsInstruments,”InternationalWomen’sRightsActionWatchAsiaPacific(2005)[Link]

• “EndingChildMarriage:HowElevatingtheStatusofGirlsAdvancesU.S.ForeignPolicyObjectives,CouncilonForeignRelations”(2013).TheCouncilonForeignRelations.[Bb]

Mid-termtakehomeexamhandedoutinclass/postedonBlackboardOctober5. Week7:IndigenousWomen’sRightsMOct10 Noclass:CelebrateIndigenousPeople’sRights!

• Seereadingsbelow.WOct12 IntersectingRights

• Andrews,Penelope(1997).“ViolenceAgainstAboriginalWomeninAustralia:PossibilitiesforRedresswithintheInternationalHumanRightsFramework”AlbanyLawReview60:917—941.[Bb]

• Deer,Sarah.“FederalIndianLawandViolentCrime:NativeWomenandChildrenattheMercyoftheState”InTheColorofViolence:TheIncite!Anthology,pp.32—41.[Bb]

Mid-termtakehomeexamdueOctober12,by5pm.Week8:Women’sRightsinWar,andinPeaceTimeMOct17 War

• Cockburn,Cynthia(2004)“TheContinuumofViolence:AGenderPerspectiveonWarandPeace.”InSitesofViolence:GenderandConflictZones,p.24—44.[Bb]

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• McKinnon,Catherine(2006).“ThroughtheBosnianLens”InAreWomenHuman?Selectedexcerpts.[Bb]

WOct19 “Peace”

• Paz,ClaudiaandPazBaily(2006)“Guatemala:GenderandReparationsforHumanRightsViolations”InWhatHappenedtotheWomen?GenderandReparationsforHumanRightsViolations,pp.92—135.[Bb]

• Enloe,Cynthia(2013)“FailingtoSecurethePeace:PatriarchalAssumptionsandTheirConsequencesforUNOperationsinHaiti;AConversationwithNadinePuechguirbal.”InSeriously?InvestigatingCrashesandCrisesasIfWomenMattered,pp.124-150.[Bb]Optional:VIDEO:Enloe,Cynthia(2012)"WhatdoesaFeministInvestigationofPost-WarLifelooklike?"atthe9thannualPublicAnthropologyConferenceatAmericanUniversity,October6,2012.[Link]

Week9:Military,Security,andCriminalizationMOct24 GuestLecturer:NoorMir[TBC]

• ReadingsTBCWOct26 State-sponsoredViolenceAgainstWomen

• GapMin,Pyong(2003)“Korean‘ComfortWomen:TheIntersectionofColonialPower,Gender,andClass”GenderandSociety17(6):938—957.[Bb]

• INCITE!WomenofColorAgainstViolence(2006)“LawEnforcementViolenceAgainstWomenofColorandTransWomenofColor:ACriticalIntersectionOfGenderViolence&StateViolence”pp.5—20;29—32.[Link]

Week10:DevelopmentDiscourseandEconomicRightsMOct31 NeedsandStrategies

• Kuenyehia,Akua(1994)“TheImpactofStructuralAdjustmentProgramsonWomen’sInternationalHumanRights:TheExampleofGhana.”TheHumanRightsofWomen,pp.422—436.[Bb]

• Ray,Isha(2007)."Women,Water,andDevelopment"AnnualReviewofEnvironmentandResources32:421–49.[Bb]

WNov2 U.S.ForeignPolicy

• Berkovitch,NitzaandAdrinaKemp(2010).“EconomicEmpowermentofWomenasaGlobalProject:EconomicRightsintheNeo-liberalEra.”InConfrontingGlobalGenderJustice:Women’sLives,HumanRights.158—174.[Bb]

• VIDEO:SecretaryClinton'sRemarkstotheAPECWomenandtheEconomySummitSeptember16,2011[Link]

• FactSheet:ClintonatAPECWomenandtheEconomySummit2011[Link]Week11:MigrationI:RefugeandAsylum

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MNov7 Refugees• Hyndman,Jennifer(2004)“RefugeeCampsasConflictZones:ThePoliticsofGender.”In

SitesofViolence:GenderandConflictZones,pp.193—212. [Bb]BringthreecopiesofyourResearchPaperten-pagedrafttoclass,Monday11/7.WNov9 HumanitarianismandAsylum

• Oxford,ConnieG.(2005)."ProtectorsandVictimsintheGenderRegimeofAsylum."NWSAJournal17(3):18—38.[Bb]

• Dugan,Lisa(2015)“HomeOfficesaysNigerianAsylumSeekerCan’tbeaLesbianasShe’sgotChildren”inTheIndependent[Link]

• “DoestheHomeOfficeThinkYou’reGay?”(2015)InTheMirror[Link]Week12:MigrationII:(Ir)regularMigrationandHumanTraffickingMNov14 TraffickingasHumanRightsConcern

• U.S.DepartmentofState(2012)“TraffickinginPersonsReport”(pp.7-11,33-35,37-45,51-52)[Link]

• SKIM:UNProtocoltoPrevent,Suppress,andPunishTraffickinginPersons[Link]• Zhang,S.X.(2009).Beyondthe'Natasha'Story:AReviewandCritiqueofCurrent

ResearchonSexTrafficking.GlobalCrime10(3):178-195.[Bb]

WNov16 GuestLecturer:MarzenaZukowska[TBC],NationalDomesticWorkersAlliance• ReadingsTBC

Week13:Healthcare&ReproductiveFreedomMNov21 HealthandHumanRights:TheWHOperspective

• TheOfficeoftheHighCommissionerforHumanRights(OHCHR)andWorldHealthOrganization(WHO),“FactSheet,TheRighttoHealth”3—13;22—39.(Readtherest,timepermitting).[Bb]

• Gruskin,Sofiaetal.(2008)“UsingHumanRightstoImproveMaternalandNeonatalHealth:History,ConnectionsandaProposedPracticalApproach.”BulletinoftheWorldHealthOrganization86(8):589—592.[Bb]

WNov23 ReproductiveHealth

• Li,Xiaorong(1996).“LicensetoCoerce:ViolenceAgainstWomen,StateResponsibility&LegalFailuresinChina’sFamily-PlanningProgram,”YaleJournalofLaw&Feminism8:145-191.[Bb]

• AngelaDavis(1982)“Racism,BirthControlandReproductiveRights”InFeministPostcolonialTheory,pp.353—365.[Bb]

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Week14:GenderIdentity&SexualFreedomsasHumanRightsMNov28

• Endsjø,D.Ø.(2005).“Lesbian,Gay,Bisexual,andTransgenderRightsandtheReligiousRelativismofHumanRights.”HumanRightsReview6(2):102—110.[Bb]

• PODCAST:“IndianCourtRecognizesThirdGender”(2014)BBCWorld:HaveYourSay.[Link]:excerpt31:50mins–end.[Link]

WNov30 In-classpresentationsWeek15MDec5 In-classpresentationscont.WDec7 In-classpresentationscont.,finalthoughtsandcelebration

***FinalPaperdue:WednesdayDecember14,byemail,by5pm***VI.LifeResources

GeorgetownUniversityprovidesnumerousservicesthathelpstudentsmaximizetheiracademicsuccessandsocialandemotionalwellbeing.Iencourageyoutomakeuseofthemasneeded.