Feminism Without Illusions: A Critique of Individualism [Paperback]

Elizabeth Fox-Genovese (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 24, 1992 | ISBN-10: 0807843725 | ISBN-13: 978-0807843727 | Edition: 3rd Edition

In arguing that feminism has neither adequately acknowledged its ties to individualism nor squarely faced the extent to which many of its campaigns for social justice are based on the insistence of rights for the individual over good of the community, this study analyzes current political theory and its application to affirmative action, comparative worth and abortion rights. The author also examines the debate over feminist history and the relationship between feminism and postmodernism.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This academic discourse charges that the feminist movement fails to recognize women and men's interdependence.

Copyright 1992 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

In this densely written but repetitive volume, historian Fox-Genovese challenges the Western legacy of individualism, which neither encompasses both male and female nor allows for the context of class and race. Arguing for a new attention to community and common culture, Fox-Genovese views postmodernist/poststructuralist scholars as guilty of unbridled individualism as the most doctrinare devotees of "Great Man History." Although many of her ideas are provocative and her topics timely (pornography, abortion rights, comparable worth, teaching the canon), her book's redundancy and lack of focus too readily reflect its origins; portions of seven of the nine chapters previously appeared as periodical articles. More seriously, the book (which its publishers predict will prove controversial) is so afflicted with academese as to discourage all but the most dedicated reader. For university women's studies collections only.
- Beverly Miller, Boise State Univ. Lib., Id.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 364 pages
• Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press; 3rd Edition edition (February 24, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0807843725
• ISBN-13: 978-0807843727
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,133,841 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent explanation of feminist theory and postmodernism, November 1, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Feminism Without Illusions: A Critique of Individualism (Paperback)

Fox-Genovese's book marks the culmination of decades of work in history and feminist theory. The range of knowledge represented here is staggering, yet her argument is elegant and clear: feminism, as the daughter of the liberal revolutions of the 18th century, creates both opportunities and serious dangers as postmodernism ascends. For anyone interested in feminist theory, postmodern theory, capitalism and the rise of the individual, or women's history, this book is a must-read. The bibliography alone is worth the cost of the volume.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A good balanced perspective of Feminism, October 10, 2011

By 

Patrick Mceldrew - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Feminism Without Illusions: A Critique of Individualism (Hardcover)

As with most of this author's books she takes a perspective of feminism that is not influenced by radical liberalism. This is a book that appeals to many who reject much of the politicized modern radical feminism and allows for many to explore important issues that may have otherwise been rejected. Unfortunately many of the writing of some of the greatest and most gifted feminists are ignored because they don't fit into a modern narrow liberal feminist world view.

4 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars The sort of thing that gives academics a bad name, July 15, 2007

By 

Elizabeth A. Root (Laurel, MD USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Feminism Without Illusions: A Critique of Individualism (Paperback)

I found this to be an almost unreadable book. I would find my mind drifting as I tried to force myself to read. I would reread sentences and still have trouble deciding what, if anything, they meant. In the end, I thought this was an extremely silly book. When Fox-Genovese was clear, she was making idiotic remarks such as claiming that feminism seeks to share the powerlessness of the mother.