WGS 4650

Professor Patel is an interesting teacher. She is very knowledgeable and has a lot of information to share. This class didn't really follow its description; we barely talked about gender at all. But her explanation is that she was teaching us feminist methods, which was true but never explicitly pointed out very well. I usually thought of it as a philosophy class with mindfulness and some poetry woven in. Professor Patel talks for a large chunk of the class, but there are definitely lots of opportunities to talk if you want to (and know what's going on). A lot of the readings can be frustrating, and she wants you to take very detailed notes, but she also tells you to embrace frustration and confusion, so you don't have to feel too bad about it. You will be put in a group at the beginning of the semester and stay with those same people throughout. You do group notes on the readings before each class, take class notes that can be individual or group, and then write a "What I Have Learned" paper twice (once at midterm and once at the end). She is extremely flexible in terms of how you want to do your group activities, and just everything in general. If you pitch an idea to her, she will probably let you do it. She doesn't like the constraining nature that we have been taught is the best way to carry out academic pursuits. So, if you want an atypical but cool class about a myriad of subjects with an interesting professor, take this class!