SurvWomStdy/Women and Madness
Term: Spring 2022 - Full Term (01/25/2022 - 05/09/2022)
Grade Mode: Letter Grading
CRN: 57034
Times & Locations
Start Date | End Date | Days | Time | Location |
---|---|---|---|---|
1/25/2022 | 5/9/2022 | MW | 2:10pm - 3:30pm | ONLINE |
WS 505: Women and Madness: Gender and Mental Illness in Film and Literature
This class will be an introduction to the issues faced by women with mental and psychiatric disabilities. While extremely common, mental illness continues to be incredibly stigmatized in American culture. Women face particular scorn and live in the shadow of the “hysterical woman” trope. In order to understand the complex intersection between gender and mental illness, we will explore narratives by and about women with diverse psychiatric diagnoses. These narratives will include novels, autobiographies and films. In addition to examining systemic ableism, mentalism and sanism, we will explore the mad pride and psychiatric survivors movements and other strategies women have used to fight for a more inclusive and just world. Attention will be paid to diverse live experiences of mentally ill women based on categories such as race and class. Work for the course will include readings, film screenings, discussion board posts, creation of a class-wide zine and a final research essay.