A bit more background on me: My focus during my undergraduate career was post-colonial African history. Someday I want to go to grad school to continue studying it. Depending on the program I get in, I might be able to study post-colonial literature and literary theory as well.
Due to these interests of mine, I’ve found that I generally agree or harbor strong sympathies with what many conservative critics refer to as “victimization studies” such as women’s studies, critical race theory, queer studies, and the like. I’m curious to hear what the readers of Mere O think about these disciplines.
When you hear a phrase like “women’s studies” what comes to mind? What was the last book you read that would be part of the core reading of any of these fields? What role, if any, should such disciplines play in the life of the university?