PP2FEM: Feminist Philosophy

Module code: PP2FEM

Module provider: Philosophy; School of Philosophy, Politics and Economics

Credits: 20

ECTS credits: 10

Level: 5

When you’ll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Dr Luke Elson, email: luke.elson@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: 2026/7

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 26 March 2026

Overview

Module aims and purpose

The core aim of this module is to introduce students to central ideas in feminist philosophy, including for example the nature of sex and gender and intersectionality. Students will also be introduced to some feminist perspectives on debates in (for example) ethics, the philosophy of language, or the history of philosophy.

You will learn how to argue about these questions in a charitable but critical way and to contribute to the ongoing philosophical discussion. Given the nature of the content, open and honest but respectful discussion is crucial.

Philosophy at Reading introduces you to progressive intellectual challenges and to consolidate your previous experience at each new level.

Module learning outcomes

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

1. Understand, explain, and assess several central positions in feminist theory since the second half of the twentieth century.
2. Explain how the philosophers we’ve studied differ on particular questions around gender, explain their arguments, and evaluate those arguments.
3. Read relevant professional research outputs in this area, accurately describing and assessing the arguments therein.
4. Participate in current ‘live’ debates in feminist philosophy, engaging with the issues in an open and respectful manner.

Module content

The core content is feminist theory including the nature of sex and gender and oppression. The second ‘applied’ part of the module may vary from year to year, but could include, for example, feminist ethics, pornography, or ecofeminism.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The module is taught by classes (lectures and seminars). Students are expected to attend 30 hours of classes during the semester in which the module is taught. All students are required to write two essays from lists of questions supplied by the module convenor. The essay assignments will be due (1) in week 5, and (2) at the end of the semester in which the module is taught. Students will be expected to read the core reading for each class, and are encouraged to be active in all classes, asking questions and trying to answer the questions posed by others. A reading list will be given out at the start of the course. The main learning method is critically engaging with the reading and discussing it in class.

Because of the sensitive nature of the topic and to promote free discussion, lecture recordings may be limited or absent.

Study hours

At least 30 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 40% 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 a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each calendar day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three calendar days;
• where the piece of work is submitted up to three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in you Individual Learning Plan), 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 calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three calendar days of the deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

Where a piece of work is submitted late after a deadline which has been revised owing to an extension granted through the Assessment Adjustments policy and process (self-certified or otherwise), it will be subject to the maximum penalty (i.e., considered to be more than three calendar days late). This will also apply when such an extension is used in conjunction with a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment.

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.

Examples include voluntary summaries of the weekly core readings, small group work, oral presentation, blog, or contributions to a discussion board.

Reassessment

Additional costs