Anyone done an Institute of Feminist Thought course?

[Tootsweets23]

I'm interested in doing the introduction to feminist thought course (aka feminism for dummies) and would welcome hearing feedback from anyone who has done it previously. Especially on the time commitment - I have two preschool children and can either do an evening session or a daytime session when they will both be in nursery. Thanks in advance!

feminist-institute.org/courses/

Not personally but I know a couple of people that have. They were very positive about it and I think it's flexible enough to do around work and family.

I wrote my review in this thread:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3527448-jane-clare-jones-launches-institute-of-feminist-thought?pg=1&order=

I've done it. It was really good. What would you like to know?

I've done it too - it's been one of the highlights of my year. I did it around looking after my one year old and had plenty of time for the reading etc. There's a reading pack for each week but you're not expected to read all of it before each session. I would wholeheartedly recommend doing it - Jane is brilliant (so funny) and it's awesome being in the company of the other women in the group too. It's all very informal and you can contribute as much or as little as you want.

Thank you! This is so helpful. My questions were on timing and commitment (but that you've fitted it around childcare etc puts my mind at rest). And also what level it is pitch at - I've a humanities honours degree and a masters but not in feminist theory or philosophy, and would count myself as OK read on popular feminist writers like Germaine Greer, Dworkin, Beauty Myth but not anything more academic or structured than that. I was wondering if it was aimed at people like me.

Having said all of that, I find her on Twitter hilarious and a voice of sanity, so the privilege of learning from her and spending time with other women sounds like a real tonic.

It's very accessible; all you need to be able to do is read a text and consider some questions that it raises. I have a BA in English Lit and it was a real pleasure using that part of my brain again! Sometimes I made notes to take to the next session, but if you don't have time that's fine. As it's all work based on the lives and experiences of women, it's easy to apply to real world examples which helps too. There was one written assignment but nothing is graded and you could write just a paragraph if you wanted. Jane also recommended a feminist documentary which I managed to watch while cooking/washing up. I've done a few other courses over the last couple of years and this was by far the one that felt designed with busy women in mind!

To do the reading and preparation thoroughly should take around 5 hours per week. I discussed this with Jane in my feedback session. That's about the amount of time it took me.

You could do less and get away with it though.

I've got a BA degree in a social sciences subject. With regards to the level, I'd liken it to about a quarter of the reading and preparation you'd do for a degree essay, but you have the seminar instead of writing the essay.