Degree or other course in women's studies...

[NotZenEnough]

I would really like to study feminism but I have no idea what sort of course to look for. I don't want to end up on some mad arse gender studies degree but don't know what else there is. I'm in London.
I know I could be reading around this a more but I'd like the structure of some study. In the mean time I'd really appreciate some feminist reading recommendations, especially that which is relevant to TRA etc.

My advice would be to find something that still has 'women' in it. Look for courses that focus on reproduction, sexual violence, etc. Women's history can be a great resource.

Also, not all things 'gender' are useless, comparing categories of masculinity and femininity across time and place can be very enlightening. Gender does exist, it just shouldn't obliterate sex as a meaningful category.

Read some classics: Catharine Mackinnon (a great writer, not obscure), Kate Millet, Simone de Beauvoir

Be wary of queer theory, though again, some of it is useful and written by clever people. It's the dumbed down version that's problematic. (Meg-John Barker has published a comic book on queer theory, complete with little caricature terfs and bodies that are blank canvases and Judith Butler hovering over everything like some weird saint - you get the picture.)

Why don't you just study it as a hobby? Then you can choose the good stuff, ditch the ridiculous, and do a degree which will likely offer better prospects.

You should study English Lit or some other general type of humanities, but focus on women's studies. It will make things much easier when applying for jobs in the future.

Thank you! That's interesting. I'll start on those texts. Much appreciated.
Useful info about courses. I'll start listening okra by properly.
I'm pretty middle aged so was planning on studying for pleasure alongside current commitments, so hadn't really thought about it leading somewhere, but I guess it could....
yes, English lit with specialism could be perfect. Thank you!

Start listening okra by properly was I think 'I will start looking around properly'! I haven't even had a drink!

If you’re in London, see what Birkbeck has to offer. A student body mainly comprising mature students will not have capitulated to woke SU politics. I agree with the poster above that something like an English MA with a focus on women’s writing would be preferable to a course in some lazy-thinking, pomo-infected Sociology department.

We should build an online course.

I would also give a thumbs up to English Literature. I did that for my BA and was able to focus heavily on women - probably around 2/3 of my work.

You should study English Lit or some other general type of humanities, but focus on women's studies. It will make things much easier when applying for jobs in the future.

I studied English w/ Creative Writing and did several elective modules which included feminist aspects (Modern Literary Theory being one). I'm sure you could specialise even more than I did.

Why don't you just study it as a hobby?

Because women's rights are being sent down the shitter at a fast rate of knots by people (men) for whom this is not a hobby.

Why don't you just study it as a hobby?

Because women's rights are being sent down the shitter at a fast rate of knots by people (men) for whom this is not a hobby.

I'm studying international studies with the OU and there has been a section on women in both politics modules (Living Political ideas and Understanding politics) as well as a section in the Introducing religions module running alongside materials for each religion. An open degree would allow you to pick and choose modules of interest and hunt out those which focus on feminism

I'd suggest sociology. I only did it for a-level and it gave me a really solid structural understanding of how inequality works throughout society.

We looked at things like employment, education, health, housing etc in terms of class, sex and race. That might be too broad for you but it's given me tools for life.

I'm also interested in doing this. I would be happy with some sort of struxtured reading list but I would ideally like a quailification.
I studied Sociology briefly at university and found some of it really good but other aspects of the teaching /text books woefully outdated.
There should be more (any) women's studies courses available online.

I'd suggest sociology. I only did it for a-level

With respect, then, you don’t know what university sociology departments are like. They’re the last place one would go to study feminism these days. Their version of feminism is all about the men (pro-prostitution, female penises, etc). Try mentioning some of the second wave texts mentioned above, and you’ll be in danger of being called a transphobe.

Some History courses will cover Women's History. Might be worth a look.