What does it mean to strike a balance between the democratic foundations of the freedom of speech on the one hand and the need for historically marginalized groups to resist exclusionary or derogatory language on the other? This course approaches this topic by examining key debates in feminism, speech, and representation. Topics include critiques of pornography, cancel culture, trigger warnings, hate speech, slurs, and cultural appropriation. We will begin by orienting ourselves to the legal frameworks of the freedom of speech in the North American and European contexts before turning to philosophical and critical theories analyzing the possible impacts of incendiary language on our democratic ideals. Our goal is to unpack the civic foundations of our democracy and interrogate the societal and ethical questions around subordinating speech. No philosophical or legal background is assumed prior to enrollment.
WOMGEN 1209