Modern Feminist Thought : From the Second Wave to Post-Feminism

by Whelehan, Imelda

• ISBN13: 9780814793008
• ISBN10: 0814793002
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1995-07-01
• Publisher: New York University Press

Summary

From the historical roots of second-wave feminism to current debates about feminist theory and politics. This introduction to Anglo-American feminist thought provides a critical and panoramic survey of dominant trends in feminism since 1968. Feminism is too often considered a monolithic movement, consisting of an enormous range of women and ideologies, with both similar and different perspectives and approaches. The book is divided into two parts, the first of which takes a close look at the most influential strands of feminism: liberal feminism, Marxist/socialist feminism, radical feminism, lesbian feminism, and black feminism. In later chapters, Whelehan ties these complexities of, and conflicts within, feminism. The role and relationship of men to feminism, and feminism's often thorny relationship to postmodernism, are also the subject of chapter length treatment. Concluding with a provocative discussion of the much-heralded advent of post-feminism and the rise of the new feminist superstars such as Camille Paglia, Naomi Wolf, Susan Faludi, and Katie Roiphe, Modern Feminist thought is an ideal text for students and a book no feminist teacher or activist should be without.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements	vii
Introduction	1	(24)
PART ONE: GENERATING THE SECOND WAVE
Liberal Feminism: The Origins of the Second Wave	25	(19)
Marxist/Socialist Feminism: Reconstructing Male Radicalism	44	(23)
Radical Feminism: Redefining Politics	67	(21)
Lesbian Feminism: Exploding `Heteroreality'	88	(18)
Black Feminism: Reimagining `Equality'	106	(19)
PART TWO: CRISIS IN FEMINISM?
Crisis in Feminism?: Feminist Debates in the `80s and `90s	125	(22)
Sites of Fissure: Putting the Politics of the Personal to the Test	147	(30)
Men in Feminism	177	(17)
Feminism, Postmodernism and Theoretical Developments	194	(22)
Identity Crisis?: `Post-feminism', the Media and `Feminist Superstars'	216	(22)
Conclusion	238	(10)
Notes	248	(13)
Bibliography	261	(6)
Index	267