Feminist Politics: Identity, Difference, and Agency

(Paperback)

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The essays in Feminist Politics contest some of the prevailing conceptualizations of identity and difference, as well as the functions of these concepts in feminist political discourse and praxis. Doing so, they amply demonstrate that issues of identity and difference have a central place in contemporary feminist scholarship. The authors of these essays have worked to develop new ways of understanding and living out differences which will both preserve and celebrate them while also fostering the necessary conditions for opening dialogue and forming new coalitions. The intent of these efforts has been to thereby engender imaginative new strategies for the personal, spiritual, and sociopolitical changes that will enable human growth, wellbeing, and flourishing. While the focus of the work represented here is understandably on women, the issues that are raised are given additional urgency, explicitly in some of the papers and implicitly in others, by the situation of their concerns in the context of the world created by the Bush administration. Because that administration has foregrounded issues of identity and difference in ways that are not only inhumane and often inaccurate but dangerous for all of us, the new ways of thinking and acting that are proposed here have a much broader application. Thus these papers truly invite not only feminists but all people to move in new directions. Taken as a whole, this volume represents cutting-edge thinking from an international perspective in these important and pressing areas for feminist research and praxis.

Reviews

In this exciting and diverse collection, the editors bring together international perspectives on feminist problems both philosophical and practical. From feminism's links to Buddhism, to third-wave activism, to women and militarism, contributors take up novel examples and work them through with philosophical acumen and political vigor. Refreshing, smart, and spirited, this collection will be an invaluable teaching tool and scholarly resource for feminists, philosophers, and everyone in between. -- Cressida J. Heyes, Canada Research Chair in Philosophy of Gender and Sexuality, University of Alberta
The breadth of this volume is both its strength and a shortcoming....The chapters are consistently thought-provoking and timely, and the book as a whole challenges us to recognize the complexity of contemporary feminist theorizing and the pressing need for libreratory praxis. -- . * APA Newsletter on Feminism and Philosophy *
Exceptionally brilliant philosophical interpretation of feminist politics.... Critical but refreshing insights.... Outstanding scholarly work on identity and feminist politics. -- J. Shola Omotola * Journal Of Men, Masculinities and Spirituality *
Feminist Politics addresses two issues that are on the forefront of contemporary feminist theory and practice: identity and political divisions. The contributors' analyses of these issues, as well as the related topics of globalization, intersectionality, third wave feminism and many others, is rich and highly-nuanced, due in large part to the international scope of the collection. The authors provide a unique and insightful perspective that fills a gap in feminist discussions. -- Susan Hekman, University of Texas, Arlington

Author Bio

Deborah Orr is a philosopher who teaches in the Division of Humanities at York University in Toronto. Dianna Taylor is assistant professor of philosophy at John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio. Eileen Kahl works in the Philosophy and Women's Studies departments at the University of South Florida. Kathleen Earle is a doctoral student at the University of Maryland, College Park. Linda Lopez McAlister is Professor Emerita of Philosophy and Women's Studies at the University of South Florida. Christa Rainwater has worked as a teaching assistant at the University of San Francisco.