The role of Women in Slovenian Society and Culture

Objectives of the course

The principle aim of the course is to acquaint students with the role of women in Slovenian society from three perspectives. The first perspective is historical and provides a comprehensive view into the economic, intellectual, literary-artistic and cultural activities of women in Slovenia in the past, and a comparison with their position today. The second perspective provides a theoretical framework and analytical tool for understanding the structural social determinants that are the key to understanding the role of women past and present within the larger area of Europe and Catholicism. The third perspective will comprise a selection of study literature and lecturing methods, which will open possibilities for individual research and theoretical projects for students who will be able to contribute to the rich but incomplete corpus of knowledge on the role of women in Slovenia.

Prerequisites

Not required.

Assessment methods

Students will be expected to actively participate in lectures and read and criticize study literature. The examination comprises the participation and oral presentation at the end of lectures. A written paper is mandatory for all students.

Course contents

The course will comprise historical and theoretical analyses. The role of women in Slovenian society and culture is first placed in the wider context of the historically changing role of women in Europe, with special emphasis on the last two centuries and on the Catholic part of Europe - the struggle of women for the right to education, work and political participation; employment and work of women as key to the family's economic survival; myths and legends of the weaker sex; the economically, socially and emotionally immature half of mankind.

An understanding of the actual roles of women in society and culture gradually allows a view into the mechanisms key to the woman's role - production of knowledge on women, their nature and place in society at the level of science, philosophy, religion, politics and culture; on the proportion of power and the politics of taking power marked in the last two centuries by the transformation of relations between the sexes, family structures and identity potentials; and on individual life stories in which the production of knowledge and taking of power is a matter for women and their attempts for their own emancipation as a condition for creating an active role in society and culture.

The role of women in Slovenian society and culture also demands a deep acquaintance with feminist theory and women's studies that developed in this area during the last century, although their authors remain relatively unknown. The last part of the lectures provides a view of the rich tradition of thinking and writing of domestic authors on the role of women in Slovenian society. This study provides perspectives and knowledge necessary to understand and comprehend the role of women in society and culture generally and especially in Slovenia.

Recommended reading

• Accati, Luisa. Pošast in lepotica, Oče in mati v katoliški vzgoji čustev. Ljubljana: Studia Humanitatis, 2001
• Duby, Georges, et al., eds. A History of Women in the West I-IV. Cambridge; London: The Belknap Press; Harvard University Press, 1997
• Bahovec, Eva D., ed. Vzgoja med gospostvom in analizo. Ljubljana: KRT, 1992
• Bahovec, Eva D. Od ženskih študij k feministični teoriji, Ljubljana: Časopis za kritiko znanosti, 1993
• Beauvoir, Simone de. Drugi spol. 2 zv. Ljubljana: Delta, 2000
• Drakulić, Slavenka. Kot da me ni. Ljubljana: Aleph, 2002
• Irigaray, Luce. Jaz, ti, me, mi. Ljubljana: Znanstveno in publicistično središče, 1995
• Milharčič-Hladnik, Mirjam. Šolstvo in učiteljice na Slovenskem. Ljubljana: Znanstveno in publicistično središče, 1995
• Milharčič-Hladnik, Mirjam, Igor Ž. Žagar. Nekaj izhodiščnih prizadevanj za odpravo seksistične rabe jezika. in: Spol: Ž. Ljubljana: KUD France Prešeren; Institutum Studiorum Humanitatis, 1996
• Molek, Mary. Immigrant Woman. Delaware: Dover, 1976
• Muser, Erna, Vida Zavrl, eds. FKL Žensko koncentracijsko taborišče Ravensbruck. Ljubljana: Partizanska knjiga, 1971
• Pizan, Christine de. Mesto dam. Ljubljana: Delta, 1999
• Planinsek Odorizzi, Irene M. The Footsteps Through Time. Washington: Washington Landmark Tours, 1978
• Stanley, Liz. The Auto/biographical I, The theory and practice of feminist auto/biography. Manchester; New York: Manchester University Press, 1995
• Vidmar, Ksenija H., ed. Ženski žanri - spol in množično občinstvo v sodobni kulturi. Ljubljana: Institutum Studiorum Humanitatis, 2001
• Vode, Angela. Spol in upor. Zbrana dela Angele Vode. 1. zv. Ljubljana: Krtina, 1998
• Vode, Angela. Značaj in usoda. Zbrana dela Angele Vode. 2. zv. Ljubljana: Krtina, 1999
• Vode, Angela. Spomin in pozaba. Zbrana dela Angele Vode. 3. zv. Ljubljana: Krtina, 2000
• Woolf, Virginia. Tri gvineje. Ljubljana: Lila zbirka 2001
• Woolf, Virginia. Lastna soba. Ljubljana: Lila zbirka, 1999
• Wollstonecraft, Mary. Zagovor pravic ženske. Ljubljana: Krt, 1992
• Zaviršek, Darja, ed. Spolno nasilje. Feministične raziskave za socialno delo. Ljubljana: Visoka šola za socialno delo, 1996
• Žnidaršič, Sabina Ž. Ora et labora - in molči ženska!, pregled demografije dežele Kranjske in pridobitnosti žensk v desetletjih 1880-1910. Ljubljana, 2001