Matricentric feminism : theory, activism, and practice / Andrea O'Reilly.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

O'Reilly, Andrea, 1961- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Feminist theory.

Feminism.

Mothers.

Motherhood.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xvii, 261 pages)

Place of Publication:

Bradford, ON : Demeter Press, [2016]

Summary:

"The book argues that the category of mother is distinct from the category of woman and that many of the problems mothers face-socially, economically, politically, culturally, and psychologically-are specific to women's work and identity as mothers. Indeed, mothers, arguably more so than women in general, remain disempowered despite forty years of feminism. Mothers, thus, need a feminism of their own, one that positions mothers' concerns as the starting point for a theory and politic of empowerment. O'Reilly terms this new mode of feminism matricentic feminism and the book explores how it is represented and experienced in theory, activism, and practice. The chapter on maternal theory examines the central theoretical concepts of maternal scholarship to include Adrienne Rich's distinction between mothering and motherhood, Sara Ruddick's model of maternal thinking and practice and Patricia Hill Collins' concept of othermothering while the chapter on activism considers the 21st century motherhood movement. Feminist mothering is likewise examined as the specific practice of matricentric feminism and this chapter discusses varies theories and strategies on and for maternal empowerment. Matricentric feminism is also examined in relation to the larger field of Feminist Theory and Women's Studies; here O'Reilly persuasively shows how matricentric feminism has been marginalized in feminist scholarship and considers the reasons for such exclusion and how such may be challenged and changed."-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Foreword : matricentric feminism is a gift to the world / Petra Bueskens

Matricentric feminism as scholarship : maternal theory

Matricentric feminism as activism : the twenty-first-century motherhood movement

Matricentric feminism as practice : feminist mothering

Matricentric feminism and its relationship to academic feminism.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 226-242).

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

1-77258-092-9