ABSTRACT

The ‘minority’ feminist viewpoints have often been submerged in the interests of maintaining a mainstream, universal model of feminism. This anthology takes into account the various differences among women while looking at the important areas of feminist struggle. While sisterhood is indeed global, it certainly does not mean that all women are required to submerge their specific differences and assimilate to a universal model. Consequently, the collection includes essays by leaders in the field of post-structuralist enquiry as well as by those immersed in the new spirituality, and the social consequences of recent biological research. Other essays reflect the political struggles which continue to be waged with different strategies by socialist and radical feminists, and the self-searching analyses undertaken by feminists uneasy about their inclusion within educational institutions and the radical new interpretations of sexuality within the cultural domain. The collection begins with a critique of white mainstream feminism emanating from Aboriginal women in Australia. The implications of the critique indicate that there is a pervasive racism within the feminist movement.

chapter |10 pages

Introduction

part II|88 pages

Contemporary Theories of Power and Subjectivity

part III|124 pages

Discourses of Definition

chapter 5|28 pages

Philosophy

chapter 7|24 pages

The Definition of Male and Female

Biological reductionism and the sanctions of normality

chapter 8|40 pages

Religion

part IV|76 pages

Feminist Interventions

chapter 11|13 pages

Conclusion

A note on essentialism and difference