Feminist Contentions: A Philosophical Exchange (Thinking Gender) [Paperback]

Seyla Benhabib (Author), Judith Butler (Author), Drucilla Cornell (Author), Nancy Fraser (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 14, 1994 | ISBN-10: 0415910862 | ISBN-13: 978-0415910866 | Edition: 1

This unique volume presents a debate between four of the top feminist theorists in the United States today. Seyla Benhabib, Judith Butler, Drucilla Cornell and Nancy Fraser discuss some of the key questions facing feminist theory. Each articulates her own position in an initial essay, then responds to the others in a follow-up essay, making possible a conversation between these influential feminist thinkers. Begun as a symposium on the issue of feminism and postmodernism, the volume evolved into a discussion of broader issues such as the usefulness of postmodernism as a theoretical concept; the role of philosophy in social criticism; how historical narrative is best conceptualized; the status of the subject of feminism; and the political effects of different formulations of all these issues. Unlike many collections which assume a given topic and ask various thinkers to respond to it, this format enables the contributors themselves to articulate their own views on the key questions facing feminist theory and distinguish their views from others.

Product Details

• Paperback: 184 pages
• Publisher: Routledge; 1 edition (December 14, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0415910862
• ISBN-13: 978-0415910866
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #945,199 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Missing the mark?, July 9, 2001

By 

Cara Mould (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Feminist Contentions: A Philosophical Exchange (Thinking Gender) (Paperback)

This book presents a sophisticated dialogue between several prominant feminist theorists in academia today. While reading, however, I kept thinking that they just may have missed the mark. The book was intended to be a dialogue debating and unpacking many of the contemorary dilemmas in feminism today. However, I found this dialogue to be so personal and sometimes catty that I began to wonder what the point was. I liked Drucilla Cornell's essay on how to "do" ethical feminism because it dealt with tangible, workable issues in feminism. I found that many of the other essays smacked of metaphysical arguements that I just couldn't apply to my life or my own work in feminism. For example, there was a lengthy arguement over whether feminism is postmodern. While reading this banter I had the distinct feeling that it was becoming a linguistic, not a theoretical arguement. Also, throughout the book, obscure examples were used and not explained and I was left feeling inadequate and confused. This book is an excellent resource for those who are accomplished in feminist studies and who are interested in the personal relationships feminist theorists. It is imperative that those reading this collection have a strong base in feminist theory and a dictionary in tow. I felt about this book the way I feel about most contemporary feminist theory; that it is a lot of talk and no action, that it is inaccesible, written for the privileged. I am often saddened that such talent can be so misdirected and wasted on intra-babble within academia instead of trying to reach women and men that feminism should really be for.