Feminist Thought: A More Comprehensive Introduction

441 Pages·2014·2.3 MB·English

by  Rosemarie Tong

FEMINIST
Praise for Previous editions T
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“No other work gives one such a sense of the scope and substance of the N
major traditions of feminist theory. This richly transformed new edition
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of Feminist Thought is an indispensable resource for those who want to
understand the theoretical origins and complexities of contemporary
THOUGHT
feminist debates. Tong’s comprehensive understanding of feminist theory
enabled her to craft an indispensable overview that clearly illustrates the
challenges as well as the promises of the range of approaches, perspectives,
and frameworks that comprise feminist efforts to identify sources
of oppression and transform women’s status as the ‘second sex.’”
—Nancy Tuana, Pennsylvania State University
F hN
E A More Comprehensive Introduction To
“Feminist Thought is an invaluable guide to all scholars and students
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of feminist theories. It provides a comprehensive overview of the richly M T
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diverse set of perspectives that guide feminist theory and action. It is an I
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essential resource for anyone seeking to engage with feminist theory.” ROSEMARIE TONG
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—Susan Sherwin, Dalhousie University N
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Feminist Thought is a clear, comprehensive, and incisive introduction to the major traditions of
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feminist theory, from liberal feminism, radical feminism, and Marxist and socialist feminism to
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care-focused feminism, psychoanalytic feminism, women of color feminisms, and ecofeminism. T
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The fourth edition has been thoroughly revised and expanded. The chapter on multiculturalism
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was renamed Women of Color feminisms and significantly updated, expanded and revised by
tina fernandes Botts of the university of north Carolina, Charlotte. The revisions also include ET
a new section on existentialism as it relates to postmodern feminism and a new conclusion that D
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contemplates third-wave feminism and the future directions of feminist theory. Learning tools I
such as the new end-of-chapter discussion questions and the bibliography, organized by topics T
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within chapters, make Feminist Thought an essential resource for students and thinkers who want to o
understand the theoretical origins and complexities of contemporary feminist debates.
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Rosemarie Tong is distinguished professor of healthcare ethics in the department of
philosophy and director of the Center for Professional applied ethics at the university of north G
Carolina, Charlotte. internationally recognized for her contributions to feminist thought and
bioethics, dr. tong is past coordinator of the international network on feminist approaches to
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Bioethics, recent past Chair of the Committee on the status of Women for the american Philosophical
association, and executive board member of the association for Practical and Professional ethics.
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Cover iMaGe “Minerva Without heLMet”©huLton-deutsCh CoLLeCtion/CorBis
Cover desiGn: MiGueL santana & Wendy haLitzer
A MeMber of the Perseus books Gr ouP
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F
EMINIST
THOUGHT
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FOURTH EDITION
F
EMINIST
THOUGHT
A MORE COMPREHENSIVE
INTRODUCTION
Rosemarie Tong
University of North Carolina, Charlotte
With a special contribution by Tina Fernandes Botts,
University of North Carolina, Charlotte
A Member of the Perseus Books Group
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Set in 11 point Adobe Garamond Pro
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Tong, Rosemarie.
Feminist thought : a more comprehensive introduction / Rosemarie Tong, University
of North Carolina, Charlotte ; with a special contribution by Tina Fernandes Botts,
University of North Carolina, Charlotte.—Fourth Edition.
pages cm
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-8133-4841-4 (paperback)—ISBN 978-0-8133-4842-1 (e-book)
1. Feminist theory. I. Title.
HQ1206.T65 2013
305.4201—dc23 2013005323
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
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Contents
Preface ix
Acknowledgments xi
Introduction: The Diversity of Feminist Thinking 1
1 Liberal Feminism 11
Conceptual Roots of Liberal Feminist Thought and Action 11
Eighteenth-Century Thought: Equal Education 13
Nineteenth-Century Thought: Equal Liberty 16
Nineteenth-Century Action: The Suffrage 20
Twentieth-Century Action: Equal Rights 23
Twentieth-Century Thought: Sameness Versus Difference 27
Contemporary Directions in Liberal Feminism 34
Critiques of Liberal Feminism 37
Conclusion 45
Questions for Discussion 49
2 Radical Feminism: Libertarian and Cultural Perspectives 50
Libertarian and Cultural Views on the Sex/Gender System 53
Some Libertarian Views on Gender 54
Some Cultural Views on Gender 57
Sexuality, Male Domination, and Female Subordination 64
The Pornography Debate 66
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vi Contents
The Lesbianism Controversy 71
Reproduction, Men, and Women 73
Radical-Libertarian and Radical-Cultural Views on Mothering 82
Critiques of Radical-Libertarian and Radical-Cultural Feminism:
Beyond Polarization 89
Conclusion 91
Questions for Discussion 91
3 Marxist and Socialist Feminism: Classical and Contemporary 93
Some Marxist Concepts and Theories 94
Classical Marxist Feminism: General Reflections 103
Contemporary Socialist Feminism: General Reflections 107
Women’s Labor Issues 115
Critiques of Marxist and Socialist Feminism 123
Conclusion 124
Questions for Discussion 125
4 Psychoanalytic and Care-Focused Feminism 126
Psychoanalytic Feminism: Focus on Freud 127
Feminist Critiques and Appropriations of Freud 131
Psychoanalytic Feminism: Focus on Lacan 143
Bridges Between Psychoanalytic and Care-Focused Feminists 151
The Roots of Care-Focused Feminism: Carol Gilligan and
Nel Noddings 152
Maternal Ethics and the Ethics of Care 163
Conclusion 170
Questions for Discussion 171
5 Existentialist and Postmodern Feminism 173
Sartre’s Being and Nothingness: A Backdrop to The Second Sex 174
Simone de Beauvoir’s Existentialism for Women 179
Critiques of Existentialist Feminism: A Communitarian
Critique of Existentialist Feminism 188
Postmodern Feminism 191
Postmodernism/Postmodern Feminism: Keynotes 192
Critiques of Postmodern Feminism 204
Conclusion 208
Questions for Discussion 210
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Contents vii
6 Women of Color Feminisms 211
From Multiculturalism to Intersectionality 212
Women of Color Feminisms in the United States 216
Women of Color Feminisms on the World Stage:
Global, Postcolonial, and Transnational Feminisms 231
Critiques of Women of Color Feminisms 247
Conclusion 250
Questions for Discussion 253
7 Ecofeminism 255
Some Roots of Ecofeminism 256
Ecofeminism: New Philosophy or Ancient Wisdom? 260
Tensions in Nature: Ecofeminist Thought 261
Spiritual Ecofeminism 269
Transformative Ecofeminism 274
Global Ecofeminism 278
Vegetarian Ecofeminism 282
Critiques of Ecofeminism 285
Conclusion 291
Questions for Discussion 292
Conclusion 293
Notes 299
Bibliography 339
Index 411
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Preface
It has been a real pleasure working on the fourth edition of Feminist Thought—
an ongoing project in which I never lose interest. Although I didn’t alter the
chapters on liberal, radical, and Marxist feminism in any substantial way, I did
combine the third edition’s chapters on psychoanalytic feminism and care-
focused feminism. In doing so, I sharpened my thoughts on this material. I also
decided to resurrect a section on existentialist feminism from the second edition
of my book and combine it with the chapter on postmodern feminism. The
result is a much fuller chapter on two demanding approaches to feminist
thought. Thanks to my talented colleague, Tina Fernandes Botts, the chapter
on multicultural and global feminism in the third edition has been replaced by
an enriched chapter entitled “Women of Color Feminisms.” More over, the
chapter on ecofeminism has several new sections. Especially important is the
new material on vegetarian/vegan feminism. Finally, the book now has a con-
clusion, a refreshed bibliography, and questions for discussion at the end of each
chapter.
I feel good about the current configuration of Feminist Thought. Of all
my writings, this book best represents who I am as a philosopher, a feminist,
and a woman. I do hope readers find this edition of Feminist Thoughtuseful
for themselves and their students. As always, this book is meant as a launch-
ing pad for others’ feminist thoughts.
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