Are we feminists, or do we "do" feminism? How can we read, approach, or use feminism in the study of literature? Are critical texts on feminism always right? How has feminist criticism changed over time? These are some of the questions that we will be engaging with during this year's UG Feminist Reading Group.

This feminist reading group is aimed at any undergraduate who is interested in feminism, and is a friendly environment to engage with feminist literature. This is an open, safe, respectful, and inclusive space: all are welcome who wish to join.

No prior knowledge of feminist theory, history, or activism is required to join in.

See last year's session schedule hereLink opens in a new window.

The themes and proposed readings for each week can be found below, and readings will be made available. Nothing in the schedule is set in stone - if there is something that you would like to see on the list or a theme that you would like to suggest, please email Roxanne (R.Douglas.2@warwick.ac.uk)

Meetings are fortnightly on Fridays (see below) in FAB1.14 at 1pm.

To sign up please email Roxanne Douglas who will be leading the group (R.Douglas.2@warwick.ac.uk). Please also get in with her with any suggestions that you may have.

Image source Marc Nozell on Flickr

Term 1

Week 3

Friday

1.00pm-2pm

H0.58

Feminism, Interrupted: Disrupting Power

CW: Racism, transphobia, sexism, reproductive rights

To Read: 'Introduction' and 'Know your history' from Lola Olufemi's Feminism, Interrupted: Disrupting Power (2020). Available as an ebook through the library hereLink opens in a new window.

Readers are invited to read additional chapters of Feminism, Interrupted if they would like to.

Week 5

Friday

1.00pm-2pm

H0.58

Nella Larson - Passing

CW: Racism, racist language

To Watch:

Passing (Netflix, release date October 29th 2021)

To Read:

Nella Larson, Passing (1929) - library ebook here

Week 7

Friday

1.00pm-2pm

H0.58

Print Cultures of the Second Wave

CW: content on sexuality, sexual violence, abortion, racism and sexism

To Browse: Spare Rib (1972-93) Issues 32 and No 38 (both 1975). 'Spare Rib' Issue 32Link opens in a new window 'Spare Rib' Issue 38Link opens in a new window
More information on Spare Rib by the British Library hereLink opens in a new window 

Posters by the See Red collective (shared in session, but more information about them can be found hereLink opens in a new window)

Week 9

Friday

1.00pm-2pm

H0.58

Week 10

Friday

1.00pm-2pm

Online

Poems from the Margins

CW: Sexuality, trauma, racism

To Read: Excerpts from One Foot on the Mountain

Excerpts from Another Birth by Forugh Farrokhzad

Excerpts from Borderlands/La Frontera by Gloria Anzaldua

Term 2

Week 3
FAB1.14

1.00pm-2pm

Spooky short stories - Her Body and Other Parties

CW: disordered eating, violence, sexuality

To Read: Sections of Carmen Maria Machado's Her Body and Other Parties - library ebook here.

'The Husband Stitch', 'Inventory' and 'Eight Bites', however the whole volume is excellent and readers are encouraged to read as much as they would like.

Week 5
FAB1.14

1.00pm-2pm

Week 7
FAB1.14

1.00pm-2pm

Is 'True Crime' Feminist?
 

*** Some may find that the themes and content of this session are especially challenging, please use your discretion when engaging with the content and if you choose to join us for this week. Access to Wellbeing Services can be found here.***

CW: Strong violence, strong sexual violence, strong bodily harm, murder

To Listen: Episode 18 of My Favourite Murder 'Investigateighteen Discovery'

- available here: 18 - Investigateighteen Discovery

(The suggested podcast for this week includes a strong content note – so for this week you have some options: you can either listen to the episode, choose your own true crime podcast/documentary, or skip this component altogether. There is no pressure to engage with a podcast/doc if this isn’t for you – first and foremost you should look after yourself.)

To Read: 'The Undeniable Power And Bold Feminism Of 'My Favorite Murder'; and 'The My Favorite Murder Problem'. "Introduction: A Tale of Two Cities" from The Five - The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper (2019) by Hallie Rubenhold.

Week 9
FAB1.14

1.00pm-2pm

Spice up your life - the 90s and 'third wave' feminism

To Watch: Spice Girls: How Girl Power Changed Britain (2021) available via box of broadcast here (use your Warwick login).

To Read: 'Introduction' to Repudiating Feminism: Young Women in a Neo-Liberal World by Christina Scharff - library ebook here

Week 10

FAB4.52

1.00pm-2pm

bell hooks

This week we look at the legacy of bell hooks, the scholar, writer and activist who gave us the term "imperialist white-supremacist capitalist patriarchy".

To Watch:

To Read: A bell hooks chapter of your own choosing - BYOh (Bring Your Own hooks) to share. If you have a favourite bring that, but here are some suggestions if you need them:
All About Love (pdf here)Link opens in a new window
Feminist theory: from margin to center (Library ebook hereLink opens in a new window)
Feminism is for everybody (Library ebook hereLink opens in a new window)
Ain't I a Woman?: Black women and feminism (Library ebook hereLink opens in a new window)
Black looks: race and representation (Library ebook hereLink opens in a new window)
Teaching to Transgress: education as the practice of freedom (Library ebook hereLink opens in a new window)

Term 3

Tomorrow Sex Will Be Good Again: Women and Desire in the Age of Consent
by Katherine Angel

CW: sexual violence, sexuality

We will be reading the first chapter from Angel's Tomorrow Sex Will Be Good Again to engage with her argument that our current understanding of consent puts pressure on women to mitigate against assault and to come to sexual encounters with clear boundaries and knowledge of what they do and do not want.

Week 4

Film Screening and Discussion

 Vote coming soon...

Week 6

Feminist Field Trip to the Herbert Art Gallery

'Be Yourself Everyone Else is Already Taken'
by Daniel Lismore

Details tba, full exhibition details hereLink opens in a new window

Herbert Art Gallery and Museum says:
"Coventry City of Culture Trust and the Herbert are delighted to present “Be
Yourself; Everyone Else Is Already Taken” by the Coventry born artist, designer
and activist Daniel Lismore. This exhibition in his home town is the first time
that his work has gone on display in the UK.
The exhibition features a major installation ‘An Army of My Life’, which takes
inspiration from the Terracotta Army, and features 50 3D sculptures, each of
which are modelled on the artist and including a cast of his face,
manifestations of Lismore’s life living as sculpture"

Week 8

Week 10