Manifesto Paper

WGS 100 – Introduction to Gender and Sexuality Studies Fall 2016 Manifesto Assignment Guidelines DUE: Monday, November 12th (last day of class). Must be submitted in class – no exceptions. Hard copies only. No late papers will be accepted. PURPOSE: The “manifesto” paper is an alternate assignment to the final exam. It is intended for those students who do not wish to take the final exam, and would instead prefer to synthesize the course material in a format that gives them greater political and intellectual autonomy. Your manifesto should offer 1) an analysis/theory of oppression. This is not limited to gender, and could encompass sexuality, race, nationality, class, ability, age, etc., but should ultimately aim to explain any of these forms of oppression as intersecting with gender/sex; and 2) a program for liberation. What will you fight for? What concrete demands do you make, and what is your strategy for liberation? Your manifesto should draw on at least three readings from class, and an additional one or two from outside of class. I encourage you to think creatively and critically about your manifesto. You may use some of the manifestos we have read together as inspiration, but ultimately you will have to discover the best form to make your unique political points. For example, students in the past have submitted poetry or short stories. This can be more difficult, but if it best expresses your political ideas, it is worth the challenge. You must schedule a one-on-one meeting with me by Wed. November 16 to discuss your project. FORMAT: 5 pages, double-spaced, 12-point font, 1-inch margins. There should be a title at the top of the page (a cover page is not necessary, but if you are so inclined, go for it). Page numbers should appear on the upper-right corner of each page. Be sure to staple your work. CITATIONS: This is not a research paper, so remember that it does not need to be source-heavy. You should draw on a minimum of 3 sources from our class readings for this assignment. Outside sources may also be used, but should be limited to one or two readings. Be sure to cite your work properly! Include a works cited or bibliography page. The citation format you use is up to you, but it should be an established and consistent one (MLA, Chicago, APA, AAA, or other styles are fine). ***Use references from the book of Angela Davis, 1983. Women, Race, and Class. New York: Random House. ***Also the reading from Alexandra Kollontai, 1909. The Social Basis of the Woman Question.