Teaching
Course Description:
Beauty is a double-edged sword in feminist philosophy. The idea of beauty as a ‘feminine virtue’ has been criticized as objectifying and alienating for women. But seeing oneself as beautiful remains an achievement and a form of resistance in a society that upholds impossible beauty standards.
In this course, we will look at several philosophical debates surrounding beauty and gender and at how they play out in popular culture. We will be critically examining fashion photo shoots, magazine articles, Youtube videos and TikTok accounts, alongside contemporary and historical philosophical texts. Themes will include: modelling and objectification; cosmetic surgery and choice; pleasure and fashion; masculinity and body-building; race and representation; and body-positivity.
Beauty is a double-edged sword in feminist philosophy. The idea of beauty as a ‘feminine virtue’ has been criticized as objectifying and alienating for women. But seeing oneself as beautiful remains an achievement and a form of resistance in a society that upholds impossible beauty standards.
In this course, we will look at several philosophical debates surrounding beauty and gender and at how they play out in popular culture. We will be critically examining fashion photo shoots, magazine articles, Youtube videos and TikTok accounts, alongside contemporary and historical philosophical texts. Themes will include: modelling and objectification; cosmetic surgery and choice; pleasure and fashion; masculinity and body-building; race and representation; and body-positivity.
Teaching done at the University of Edinburgh:
- Political Philosophy (3rd year UG)
- Morality and Value (1st year UG)
- Feminist Philosophy (3rd year UG)
- Advanced Topics in Feminist Philosophy (4th year UG)
- Advanced Topics in Feminist Philosophy (MSc level)