ECON 355(S) Feminist Economics

Neoclassical economics appears not to have much to say about gender: its tools purport to be gender-neutral, its framework universal. But a growing movement of feminist economists argue that this universality is illusory; neoclassical theory is actually based on a number of highly gendered assumptions; assumptions so naturalized that we have long since stopped noticing them. These include the decision not to include housework in GDP; the decision to treat the household as a single unit; and, centrally, the construction of the figure of homo economicus; who, far from being universal, occupies one side of a series of gendered dualities-with the result that he actually resembles almost noone. In this class we will read feminist critiques of mainstream economic theory, and consider arguments that its central assumptions are also racially constructed. Then we will look at some of the profusion of new work challenging those assumptions. Topics may include bargaining models within the family; women in development; feminist approaches to new technologies; public/private dualities and the role of the state; welfare `reform'. Requirements: several short reaction papers; a research paper; class participation and leading class discussions. Prerequisite: Economics 251 or permission of the instructor. Enrollment limited to 20. This course satisfies the Economics Department's alternative paradigms requirement.

Hour:  HONDERICH