Throughout history, Western philosophers have buried women's characters under the category of "men's nature." Feminist theorists, responding to this exclusion, have often been guilty of this exlcusion as well - focusing only on white, middle-class women and treating others as inessential. Inessential Woman is an eloquent argument against white, middle-class bias in feminist theory. It warns against trying to seperate feminist thinking and politics from issues of race and class, and challenges the assumption of homogeneity that underlies much of feminist thought.
Elizabeth V. Spelman is professor of philosophy at Smith College and author of Inessential Woman and Fruits of Sorrow. She lives in Northampton, Massachusetts.
Throughout history, Western philosophers have buried women's characters under the category of "men's nature." Feminist theorists, responding to this exclusion, have often been guilty of this exlcusion as well - focusing only on white, middle-class women and treating others as inessential. Inessential Woman is an eloquent argument against white, middle-class bias in feminist theory. It warns against trying to seperate feminist thinking and politics from issues of race and class, and challenges the assumption of homogeneity that underlies much of feminist thought.
Elizabeth V. Spelman is professor of philosophy at Smith College and author of Inessential Woman and Fruits of Sorrow. She lives in Northampton, Massachusetts.
Elizabeth V. Spelmanis professor of philosophy at Smith College and author ofInessential WomanandFruits of Sorrow. She lives in Northampton, Massachusetts.
Spelman uses her considerable erudition and analytical abilities to
bring white, middle-class feminist theorists and their profoundest
critics closer together. —The Women's Review of Books
"An energetically thought-provoking contribution to current
developments in feminist theory." —The New York Times Book Review
Spelman (philosophy, Smith) has developed a closely written, detailed, and (regrettably) repetitive treatise criticizing many feminist writers for their failure to transcend what she calls ``the legacy of western philosophy'': Whereas Aristotle and Plato denied the essential sameness among all humans, she says, these writers insist on an essential sameness among women, which results in denial of important differences, generalizes from the white, middle-class-American experience, and neglects to adequately acknowledge that of minority and Third World women. Taking examples from writers as diverse as Mary Daly, Shulamith Firestone, and Simone de Beauvior, Spelman accuses feminists of insisting that sexism affects all women alike--a statement sure to elicit controversy. For academic collections.-- Beverly Miller, Boise State Univ. Lib., Id.
Spelman uses her considerable erudition and analytical abilities to
bring white, middle-class feminist theorists and their profoundest
critics closer together. -The Women's Review of Books
"An energetically thought-provoking contribution to current
developments in feminist theory." -The New York Times Book
Review
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