ENMMLF: Modern Literary Feminisms: Theories/Praxis/Texts

Module code: ENMMLF

Module provider: English Literature; School of Humanities

Credits: 20

Level: 7

When you’ll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Dr Nicola Abram , email: n.l.abram@reading.ac.uk

Module co-convenor: Dr Nicola Wilson, email: n.l.wilson@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2025/6

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 3 April 2025

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module explores modern feminist thinking and writing, while also acknowledging the critical fissures inherent in the contested term ‘feminism’. It will introduce you to aspects of feminist theory and praxis through reference to a range of texts – including fiction, non-fiction, film, drama, blogs and websites – to problematize the implicit hierarchies contained in different kinds of knowledge. The module will encourage you to reflect on your own embodied knowledge and to connect your reading with the (gendered) world around you. 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Recognise the multiplicity of literary feminisms, with reference to different global contexts, historical periods, and political emphases 
2. Assess the significance of form and genre in relation to thematic content 
3. Consider the publishing, production and reception contexts of the set texts 
4. Synthesise a written argument 

Module content

The module will trace a number of key concepts and concerns in the history of modern literary feminisms. These include the recovery of ‘lost’ lives and narratives; the relationship between power and space; the intersection of sexism and patriarchy with racism, class, and sexuality; the significance of the body; and representations of and responses to sexual violence. 

Set texts are likely to include works by Sara Ahmed, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Alison Booth, Judith Butler, Hazel V. Carby, Stella Duffy, Lauren Elkin, Cecile Emeke, bell hooks, Anne McClintock, Juliet Mitchell, Joyce Carol Oates, Simone Murray, Jacqueline Rose, Elaine Showalter, Carolyn Steedman, Sojourner Truth and Jacqueline Wernimont. 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Teaching will be delivered through weekly intensive seminar discussions (one two-hour seminar per week over eleven weeks). Each seminar will involve discussion of texts or special materials that have been set and prepared in advance. Module tutors will also be available for consultation with students on a one-to-one basis to discuss their work and the progress of the module as a whole. 

Study hours

At least 22 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 50% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Students will be given the opportunity to submit a formative essay partway through the term in which the module is taught. 

Reassessment

Additional costs