Is academic feminism dead? : theory in practice / edited by The Social Justice Group at The Center for Advanced Feminist Studies, University of Minnesota.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

University of Minnesota. Social Justice Group.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Feminist theory.

Feminism and education.

Women's studies.

Physical Description:

vii, 391 pages ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

New York : New York University Press, 2000.

Summary:

What role does theory play in academia today? How can feminist theory be made more relevant to the very real struggles undertaken by women of all professions, races, classes, and sexual orientations? How can it be directed into more effective social activism, and how is theory itself a form of practice?

Feminist theory and political activism need not -- indeed cannot -- be distinct and alienated from one another. To reconcile the gulf between word and deed, scholar-activists from a broad range of disciplines have come together here to explore the ways in which practice and theory intersect and interact. The authors argue against overly abstract and esoteric theorizing that fails its own tests of responsible political practice and suggest alternative methods by which to understand feminist issues and attain feminist goals. They also examine the current state of affairs in the academy, exposing the ways in which universities systematically reinforce social hierarchies and offering important and intelligent suggestions for curricular and structural changes.

Is Academic Feminism Dead? marks a significant step forward in relating academic and social movement feminism. It recognizes and examines the diverse realities experienced by women, as well as the changing political, cultural, and economic realities shaping contemporary feminism.

Contents:

Part I Theory Binds: The Perils of Retrofit 5

1 Retrofit: Gender, Cultural, and Class Exclusions in American Studies / VeVe A. Clark 8

2 Ethnocentrism/Essentialism: The Failure of the Ontological Cure / Marilyn Frye 47

3 Maternal Presumption: The Personal Politics of Reproductive Rights / Alice Adams 61

4 Sex, Gender, and Same-Sex Marriage / Peggy Pascoe 86

Part II Storytelling: Sites of Empowerment, Sites of Exploitation 131

5 The Virtual Anthropologist / Kath Weston 137

6 How History Matters: Complicating the Categories of "Western" and "Non-Western" Feminisms / Mrinalini Sinha 168

7 Bringing It All Home to the Bacon: A Ph.D. (Packinghouse Daughter) Examines Her Legacy / Cheri Register 187

8 Blood Ties and Blasphemy: American Indian Women and the Problem of History / Kathryn Shanley 204

9 Ella Que Tiene Jefes y No Los Ve, Se Queda en Cueros: Chicana Intellectuals (Re)Creating Revolution / Eden E. Torres 233

Part III Starting Here, Starting Now: Challenges to Academic Practices 261

10 Being Queer, Being Black: Living Out in Afro-American Studies / Rhonda M. Williams 266

11 Learning to Think and Teach about Race and Gender despite Graduate School: Obstacles Women of Color Graduate Students Face in Sociology / Mary Romero 283

12 Anger, Resentment, and the Place of Mind in Academia / Diana L. Velez 311

13 Stupidity "Deconstructed" / Joanna Kadi 327

14 To Challenge Academic Individualism / Sharon Doherty 347.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

0814727050

0814727042

OCLC:

43951924