Changing the Wor(l)d: Discourse, Politics and the Feminist Movement

260 Pages·1997·10.479 MB·English

by  Stacey Young

Changing the Wor(l)d
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For Joan Rulison 10ung, my mother
and
For Margaret Bailey Denio, my great-aunt
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Contents
Acknowledgments lX
1. Introduction 1
2. Feminist Publishing As Discursive Politics 25
3. The Autotheoretical Texts 61
4. Social Science Studies of the Women's Movement:
Problems in Theory and Method 99
5. Social Movement Theory 147
6. Postmodern Critiques: Power and Subjectivity,
Domination and Resistance 169
7. Social Science Methodology 191
8. Last Words/Words First 201
Notes 209
References 237
Index 245
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Acknowledgments
T
his work has been encouraged, refined, and sustained by col
leagues and friends too numerous to mention but nonetheless
indispensable to it. Special thanks, however, go to Lauren Pinsley,
Kim Christensen, Shane Phelan, Linda Nicholson, Rosemary Nossiff,
Veronica Frenkel, Trevor Hope, Kris Miller, Michael Busch, Jal Mistry,
and Cecelia Cancellaro. Heartfelt thanks also to my family.
Susan Buck-Morss, Biddy Martin, Mary Katzenstein, and Bud Ken
worthy shepherded this project through its dissertation stage. That disser
tation and this book have gained immeasurably from their incisive
critiques, their enthusiasm for the project, and their irreverence for disci
plinary boundaries and for the mainstream of political science. This book
would not have been possible without them.
Nor would it have been possible without the generous and patient
participation of Nancy Bereano of Firebrand Books, Dionne Brooks of
South End Press, Barbara Grier of Naiad Books, Andrea Lockett of
Kitchen Table: Women of Color Press, Cynthia Peters of South End
Press, Joan Pinkvoss ofA unt Lute Books, Karin San Juan of South End
Press, Carol Seajay of Feminist Bookstore News, and Barbara Smith of
Kitchen Table: Women of Color Press. These publishers shared their
time and insights freely and thoughtfully. The work they do is tremen
dously important; I hope that my own work facilitates theirs in some
small way.
Deep appreciation and thanks go to Beverly Mcintyre, for sublime
companionship and so much more, including motorcycles, Africa, and
the time and support to complete this work. Here's to the optimists.
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