Author:
Lindberg, Helen (Örebro University, Department of Social and Political Sciences)
Title:
Only Women Bleed?: A Critical Reassessment of Comprehensive Feminist Social Theory
Department:
Örebro University, Department of Social and Political Sciences
Publication type:
Doctoral thesis, monograph (Other academic)
Publisher:
Örebro University Press
Series:
Örebro Studies in Political Science, ISSN 1650-1632; 24
URI:
urn:nbn:se:oru:diva-6051
Permanent link:
http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:oru:diva-6051
Keywords(en)
:
Catharine M. MacKinnon, Anna G. Jonasdottir, Luce Irigaray, Judith Butler, feminism, political feminism, comprehensive feminism, postfeminism, marxism, social theory, ideology, politcal implications, social science, philosophy of science
Abstract(en)
:
Is there a viable specifically feminist social theory that can serve as heuristic devise in our social research? This thesis is a critical reassessment of the ontological and normative assumptions of four social theories with specific and clear claims of being feminist. These are Catharine M MackInnon’s Radical Feminism, Anna G Jonasdottir’s Theory of Love Power, Luce Irigaray’s Feminism of Sexual Difference and Judith Butler’s Queer Feminism. The feminist social theories are examined and critically discussed according to their internal coherence and their external relevance; which includes the normative political implications that can be inferred. The thesis claims that implicit in every comprehensive feminist approach, there is also a specific view of science. Then follows a meta-inquiry of comprehensive feminisms as social science and as social theories, including a discussion of the effects of comprehensive ideology on social science research in general, and of the relationship between ideology, theory and a scientific approach in particular. The thesis concludes that it is highly problematic to do science feministly, but that we do need the critical questions feminists raise in order to reevaluate concepts, theories and research priorities. It is argued that feminist social theories are perhaps most helpful as ideological guidance for political action.
Public defence:
2009-04-17, Hörsal T, Örebro universitet, 701 82 , Örebro, 13:15 (English)
Degree:
Degree of Doctor of Philosophy
Supervisor:
Olsson, Jan, Professor (Örebro University, School of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences)
Opponent:
Wolin, Richard, Professor (Graduate Center of City University of New York)
Available from:
2009-04-29
Statistics:
983 hits