PHIL 518/PHIL 605/WGST 500/SCHG 500

Feminist Philosophical Literatures

Final Take-Home Test

DUE: Friday, April 24 (9:00 a.m.) – soft deadline

Friday, April 24 (7:00 p.m.) – hard, absolute, final deadline

All tests must be submitted through Blackboard

PURPOSE OF ASSIGNMENT
 To demonstrate your understanding of the material covered in this course
 To demonstrate your ability to evaluate the articles and arguments covered in this course
 To demonstrate your ability to defend your own position using philosophical argumentation
 To demonstrate that you have not only read, but have also thought about and are able to apply
the concepts, theories, and arguments we have considered in class to contemporary social
and/or political contexts

INSTRUCTIONS
 There are three sections to the test. You have to answer ONE question from section 1, ONE
question from section 2, and the only question in section 3. You will answer a total of THREE
questions in your take-home test.
 Questions from sections 1 and 2 are essay questions, will be graded out of 10, and should be
around 1000 words
 The question from section 3 is a long-answer question, will be graded out of 5, and should be
around 300-500 words
 Each essay question has several sub-questions; be sure to complete each part of the question
you choose to answer
 Your test should be a total of around 2500 words. I will not accept tests that are over 3000
words
 NO reading beyond the material required for this course is necessary
 Quoting directly from texts is strongly discouraged, since the purpose of this assignment is to
demonstrate that you have understood the texts and ideas under consideration and quoting
does not do that. If you are going to quote, make sure that it is absolutely necessary
 Please review the definition of plagiarism on the syllabus
 Because your assignments are being turned in through Blackboard, they will be run through the
SafeAssign plagiarism detector
 Please follow the standard writing parameters for the class (that you have followed for each
assignment):
o NO name on your assignment
o Student ID at the top of the page
o Word count under your student ID
PHIL 518/PHIL 605/WGST 500/SCHG 500
Feminist Philosophical Literatures

SECTION 1: Down Girl: The Logic of Misogyny

Answer ONE question from this section. Your answer should be around 1000 words and will be graded
out of 10.

1. In her book, Down Girl: The Logic of Misogyny, Kate Manne introduces and develops a novel,
ameliorative account of misogyny in order to replace what she has calls the naïve account of
misogyny that most of us know well. Is she successful? Are there any problems with her
account? How can her account be applied? In order to fully answer this question, answer all of
the following questions:
a. Explain, in detail, the naïve account of misogyny. (2 paragraphs)
b. State and explain two problems with this account. (2 paragraphs)
c. What is Manne’s definition of misogyny? (1 paragraph)
d. State and explain three ways in which Manne’s account differs from the naïve account
and how it attempts to improve upon the problems with the naïve account (3
paragraphs)
e. Do you think Manne’s account compelling/convincing? Remember to provide reasons to
support your position. (1-2 paragraphs)
f. Discuss one concrete scenario in which we can use Manne’s account of misogyny to
better understand a current social problem (1-2 paragraphs)

2. In her book, Down Girl: The Logic of Misogyny, Kate Manne introduces and develops a novel,
ameliorative account of misogyny and in so doing, distinguishes misogyny from sexism. What is
the relationship between the two terms? Are you convinced by her general account? In order to
fully answer this question, answer all of the following questions:
a. Explain Manne’s ameliorative account of misogyny and how and why it is ameliorative.
(In other words, what is it ameliorating and why was that account in need of
amelioration?) (3 paragraphs)
b. How does Manne define sexism? (1 paragraph)
c. What is the relationship between misogyny and sexism? (1-2 paragraphs)
d. On Manne’s account, could there be misogyny without sexism? If so, explain how. If not,
explain why not. (1-2 paragraphs)
e. What would be a contemporary example of Manne’s account of misogyny? (1
paragraph)
f. What would be a contemporary example of Manne’s account of sexism? (1 paragraph)
g. Do you agree with Manne’s ameliorative account of misogyny? If so, explain why. If not,
explain why not. (1-2 paragraphs)
h. Is there anything missing from her account? If so, explain. (1-2 paragraphs) If you do not
think there is anything missing, discuss what makes her account complete.
PHIL 518/PHIL 605/WGST 500/SCHG 500
Feminist Philosophical Literatures

SECTION 2: The Policing of X

Answer ONE question from this section. Your answer should be around 1000 words and will be graded
out of 10.

The Policing of Bodies Question

3. In this class, we have discussed a number of different ways in which women’s bodies, choices,
and practices are policed and the harmful and dangerous consequences that result from such
policing. [Recall policing in pregnancy (Freeman and Ayala, Richardson et al., Cottom); of eating
(Kukla); of weight (Wilson); of speaking (Dotson); with respect to existing as Black in a racist,
patriarchal society (Collins); of one’s sex (Bettcher, McKinnon)].

Choose two domains in which women are policed and answer the following questions:
a. Hitting upon all of the key points in the text/issue under consideration, explain and give
examples of how the policing works in the first domain that you have chosen to discuss. (2-3
paragraphs)
b. What are two harmful consequences of such policing? (2 paragraphs)
c. Do you agree with the way the case has been made for this form of policing? If so, why? If not,
why not? Has the author left anything out of their account? (1-2 paragraphs)
d. Hitting upon all of the key points in the text/issue under consideration, explain and give
examples of how the policing works in the first domain that you have chosen to discuss. (2-3
paragraphs)
e. What are two harmful consequences of such policing? (2 paragraphs)
f. Do you agree with the way the case has been made for this form of policing? If so, why? If not,
why not? Has the author left anything out of their account? (1-2 paragraphs)

The Policing of Disability Question

4. In the sections of Brilliant Imperfection that we read this semester, Eli Clare develops a complex
argument that builds a relationship between the medical industrial complex and our society’s
infatuation with finding cures for disabilities. What is the relationship between the two? Do you
agree with Clare’s position? In order to fully answer this question, answer all of the following
questions:

a. What is the medical industrial complex? Provide an example to help complete your
answer. (2 paragraphs)
b. Articulate, in your own words, Clare’s thesis about cures? (1-2 paragraph)
c. Discuss three examples that Clare uses in Brilliant Imperfection in support of this thesis
about cures. (3 paragraphs)
d. Explain how each example from part (c) supports his thesis. (3 paragraphs)
e. Do you agree with Clare’s thesis about the relationship between the medical industrial
complex and cures? (2-3 paragraphs)
PHIL 518/PHIL 605/WGST 500/SCHG 500
Feminist Philosophical Literatures

If so, explain how and why.

If not, explain why not.
If you agree but still find problems with Clare’s position, explain your position.

SECTION 3: The Out at a Bar Question

Everyone must answer this question. Your answer to this question should be 300-500 words and will be
graded out of 5.

The year is 2030 and you are out at a bar. You run into someone from this class and begin reminiscing
about it. After you lament the way that the semester ended, you begin talking about what made the
biggest impression on you from the class. Answer the following sub-questions:

a. What argument from this class has made the biggest impression on you, such that you’ll likely
remember it ten years from now?
b. Why and how has it made an impression on you? What has it taught you?
c. Reconstruct, to the best of your abilities, the main thrust of the argument.
d. How do you anticipate using this argument in your life and/or work?