ABSTRACT
Translators’ footnotes in feminist translation projects serve similar purposes: they point to and discuss specific linguistic difficulties, signalling the translator’s presence and involvement. From a feminist perspective, not every text requires or merits translation, and non-translation has therefore proven a useful strategy. Proactive and strategic text selection privileges the translation of works that may be useful, inspirational and informative for feminism. The establishment of publishing houses that ensure the translation and dissemination of feminist materials is another important strategy, along with the cultivation of networks of politically motivated and supportive editors, scholars, reviewers and critics. Selective retranslation has resulted in the availability of interesting alternatives as old texts are read from new vantage points and translated for new audiences. Making the feminine visible in language is perhaps the most important feminist micro-strategy. Neologisms common in feminist writing have presented considerable challenges for translators, since the type of feminist writing in which they are prevalent ironically deconstructs conventional ‘malestream’ language.
