Customer Reviews

Feminist Contentions: A Philosophical Exchange (Thinking Gender)

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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.