Reviews (3)

Knowledge-raising, questioning and problematising
Drucilla Cornell has gathered immense quantities of essays in order to cover the relationship between feminism (as academic discipline and political theory) and pornography. The essays cover a very broad aspect of pornography, which for many can only be pictures/films containing explicit sexual acts. The essays give the following aspects of pornography:
Great for a survey course or just getting started...
This was the textbook for a graduate course, "Issues Surrounding Pornography" at my university.I found it to be a thorough, multi-faceted exploration of the adult industry, feminist theory (both anti-porn and anti-censorship) and the wide range of opinions and thinking on this hot-button issue.This book also includes writings on the politics of sex work.Were I the editor, I would have included Laura Mulvey and I would have included more writings about sex workers lives from the point of view of the sex worker herself/himself, as well as more pro-sex work writings.The book seems to have mainly anti-sex work writings.I would have balanced it out more.This is easily corrected by a savvy professor who can assign extra readings from a book such as "Global Sex Workers" or "Whores and Other Feminists."Overall, it's a excellent resource, one I refer to again and again as I write on the subject.

A great collection about feminist views on porn.
This is the best collection of its kind, and perhaps the only one to dealdirectly with the issue of pornography from a feminist view-point. Sure,some of the same issues and perhaps even the same essays can be found inother feminist studies anthologies, but this 600 page book has everythingwritten to date of importance on the subject in one neat package. DrucillaCornell is a great writer, and its good to see an inclusion of CatharineMacKinnon-who started the whole idea of feminist inquiry into porn-in heranthology, despite epistemological differences between MacKinnon andCornell (see Cornell's book Transformations for more about that). ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Feminism    2. Feminism & Feminist Theory    3. Feminist theory    4. Pornography    5. Pornography (Social Aspects)    6. Sex-oriented businesses    7. Social Science    8. Social aspects    9. Sociology    10. Women's Studies - General    11. Politics | American Politics | Women & Politics    12. Pornography & obscenity    13. Social Science / Feminism & Feminist Theory   

Reviews (8)

Some misinformation, but overall very good
I love the Guerilla Girls site and I love what they stand for. The new book about stereotypes of women is fun and informative.The section on Tokyo Rose is enlightening and rather sad, and kudos to them for exposing some of the myths of the "sainted" Mother Theresa. These things need to be said and recorded. Good book for smart women!
This book details some of the stereotypes faced by women.I use it in my college classes.The most interesting part is in the back on the book where they describe stereotypes like Barbie Dolls.This book really makes you think about what it means to be a woman and how men try to put us into these catagories.So read the book, shake things up, and confuse the guys by not giving them what they're looking for!

Go read it in the bookstore!
The Guerilla Girls are cool.I am not disputing that.I am also not disputing that what they say in this book is true.It is.Read more

Subjects:  1. Feminism & Feminist Theory    2. Gender Studies    3. Psychology    4. Social Science    5. Sociology    6. Stereotype (Psychology)    7. Women    8. Women's Studies - General    9. Women's Studies - History    10. Social Science / Women's Studies   

Editorial Review

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Reviews (1)

Great women's history
Not only the legal status but the personal outlooks of women changed immeasurably
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Subjects:  1. History    2. History - General History    3. History - U.S.    4. History: American    5. Public Policy - City Planning & Urban Dev.    6. United States - General    7. Women's Studies - General    8. 20th century    9. American history: c 1800 to c 1900    10. American history: from c 1900 -    11. Feminism    12. First World War, 1914-1918    13. History / United States / General    14. History, American | Cultural    15. Inter-war period, 1918-1939    16. Massachusetts    17. Social history    18. Urban communities    19. c 1800 to c 1900    20. c 1900 - c 1914   

Subjects:  1. Criticism, interpretation, etc    2. Historiography    3. History and criticism    4. Interior Design - General    5. Judaism - General    6. Judaism - Sacred Writings    7. Rabbinical literature    8. Religion    9. Religion - Judaism    10. Sources    11. Talmud    12. Women In Judaism    13. Women in rabbinical literature    14. Ancient World    15. Asian / Middle Eastern history: BCE to c 500 CE    16. Feminism    17. Judaism    18. Literary studies: classical, early & medieval    19. Palestine    20. World history: BCE to c 500 CE   

Subjects:  1. Art    2. Gender Studies    3. History - General    4. Popular Culture - General    5. Women's Studies - General    6. Art / Popular Culture    7. Art styles not limited by date    8. Cultural studies    9. Feminism    10. Theory of art   

Reviews (3)

Excellent survey of an important debate
"Is Multiculturalism Bad for Women?" consists of Okin's initial essay addressing that question, followed by a collection of essays commenting on her thoughts, followed by another essay by Okin in defense of her thesis.I admittedly was slightly disappointed the first time I read Okin's initial essay.Although her thesis is clear enough (that the liberal values of feminism and multiculturalism must necessarily come into conflict considering that a large number of cultures encourage the oppression of women), she fails to rigorously define her terms or to support her thesis with more than a few anecdotes.She also tends to conflate culture with religion at times when it is not appropriate, a tendency on which a number of respondents comment.
clash of values
In this slim volume of essays collected from the pages of the Boston Review, a cross-section of contemporary intellectual life is represented in debate over Okin's central thesis that the values of multiculturalism and feminism are at odds (at some level).The hinge of Okin's argument is that feminism is universalist in intent, arguing that all women, by virtue of their being women (or being human), are entitled to certain rights and freedoms; multiculturalism, on the other hand, is often used to support cultural difference, and is local in scope.Conflict emerges when we encounter cultures in which women are regarded as lower in social standing than men, and thus denied rights and freedoms that feminists have (traditionally) held in esteem -- the right to vote, assemble peacefully, earn income, etc. (see Martha Nussbaum's work in "Sex and Social Justice" and "Women and Human Development" for a fuller exposition of a feminist conception of rights).In Okin's estimation, multiculturalists back off from criticism, arguing instead that different cultures must be respected, and indeed cannot be judged because they do not share the same cultural foundation as we (i.e., Westerners) do.Hence, for Okin, a committed feminist, multiculturalism is often bad for women. Multiculturalism, Feminism and Liberalism
This book is designed around the first essay, "Is Multiculturalism Bad for Women?"The premise of the essay is that liberalism has long advocated both multiculturalism and feminism as philosophies not inconflict with one another.However, what is the obligation of a liberaldemocracy to cultural minorities that oppress women within their culture? Can the needs of women and minorities be met or are their respectiveagendas mutually exclusive to one another?Does the sovereignty of alarger state supercede that of a smaller state and to which group does themajority owe its protection- minority cultures or individuals(women)?Read more

Subjects:  1. Culture conflict    2. Ethnic Studies - General    3. Feminism & Feminist Theory    4. General    5. Minority women    6. Multiculturalism    7. Politics / Current Events    8. Sex discrimination against wom    9. Sex discrimination against women    10. Social Science    11. Social conditions    12. Sociology    13. Women's Studies - General    14. American Language and Literature    15. Gender Studies    16. Political Philosophy    17. Political Science and International Relations    18. Political control & freedoms    19. Social Science / Women's Studies    20. Women's studies   

Subjects:  1. Feminism    2. Feminism & Feminist Theory    3. Sexism    4. Social Science    5. Social institutions    6. Sociology    7. Sociology - General    8. United States    9. Women's Studies - General    10. Women's rights    11. Social Science / Sociology / General   

Subjects:  1. Americanization    2. Anthropology - Cultural    3. East Indians    4. Emigration & Immigration    5. Feminism & Feminist Theory    6. Globalization    7. Politics / Current Events    8. Social Science    9. Sociology    10. Transnationalism    11. United States    12. Women's Studies - General    13. Asian studies    14. Feminism    15. Gender Studies/Feminist Theory    16. India    17. Postcolonial Studies    18. South Asian Studies   

Subjects:  1. Churchill, Caryl    2. Criticism and interpretation   

Subjects:  1. 1975-    2. African Americans    3. Discrimination & Racism    4. Ethnic Issues    5. Ethnic Studies - African American Studies - General    6. Political Ideologies - Nationalism    7. Politics and government    8. Race And Ethnic Relations    9. Race identity    10. Social Science    11. Social conditions    12. Sociology    13. Women's Studies - General    14. Africa    15. Ethnography    16. Feminism    17. Social Science / Women's Studies    18. USA   

Reviews (14)

Good Book!
The readings are pretty good and insightful. The chapters are long enough to complete in one sitting and provides the ability for comprehension without too much reading.The topics provide deep thought and are right on point.

Awareness
bell hooks contextualizes feminism within the different realms of class and race. a very good, critical and comprehensive look at feminism

Feminist Theory Review
I think it's high time the classics were brought back. Too often these feminists classics have gone out of print, and not available to younger generations. It's as viable today as it was in 1984. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. African American women    2. Attitudes    3. Ethnic Studies - African American Studies - General    4. Evaluation    5. Feminism    6. Feminism & Feminist Theory    7. Marginality, Social    8. Social Science    9. Sociology    10. United States    11. Women's Studies - General    12. Social Science / African-American Studies   

Subjects:  1. Ancient and Classical    2. Caring    3. History & Theory - General    4. Housewives    5. Literary Criticism    6. Moral and ethical aspects    7. Psychology Of Women    8. Sex discrimination against wom    9. Sex discrimination against women    10. Sexual division of labor    11. Social Justice (Ethics)    12. Sociology    13. Women's Studies - General    14. Feminism    15. Hellenic languages    16. Political Science / History & Theory    17. Politics | Political Theory    18. Work & labour   

Editorial Review

Drawing from a wondrously deep well of diaries, letters, and papers from 17th-century England, the gifted historian Antonia Fraser gives the image of the "softer sex" a drubbing, plunging readers into the lives of "heiresses and dairy maids, holy women and prostitutes, criminals and educators, widows and witches, midwives and mothers, heroines, courtesans, prophetesses, businesswomen, ladies of the court, and that new breed, the actress." Prophetess Jane Hawkins, called "a witty crafty baggage" by one angry bishop, got around the ironclad law forbidding women to preach by claiming inspiration from God, while Catholic Mary Ward risked her neck repeatedly to found a string of convents and schools for girls on the European continent. Although several good wives of London beat the Lord Mayor in 1649 for his part in trying to arrest five members of Parliament, it's certainly true that most Englishwomen of the time were hemmed in by the whims and fears of men. Wealthy girls were routinely used as chips to bolster family fortunes through marriage, and any old, poor woman unfortunate enough to have "a furred brow, a hairy lip, a squint eye, a squeaking voice or a scolding tongue" lived under suspicion of witchcraft, wrote one contemporary observer. In Fraser's sure hands and supple prose, memorable and execrable historic moments spring to life. Read more

Reviews (2)

A worth reading
A very good book, well written and very interesting. It provides the reader with information about Seventeenth Century women from every class, noble and peasants alike. Every girl should read it. It will give them muchmore self-consciousness than 30 feminist treatises!

Good book
It relates to the women in 17th Century England and the times they endured, torn down by the "stereotypical" views of what women of today think.Women of the 17th Century carried a role within the society in which they were able to stand up, to be a woman.They were able to lift their heads despite what the men had said of the time period. Women were able to gain custody of their children, marry the man they love and become much more of a customary woman that what had been perceived.Antonia Fraser's historically written book justifies the idea that women truly played a role within the society that was not forfeited. The question she had asked, "were there women in the 17th century?"Yes, yes there were, and Antonia Fraser proved it. Historically, in a fictional manner in a non-fiction piece. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. History: World    2. England    3. Feminism    4. Social history    5. World history: c 1500 to c 1750    6. c 1600 to c 1700   

Features

• Illustrated

Reviews (5)

This is an academic work!!! Please remember that!!!
It seems that time and time again when I happen to come across certain reviews, such as the one particular review here which was a scathing attack on this author and the text, I just roll my eyes in exasperation and do nothing about it. Well this was the last time! Slavoj Zizek is a shinning light in the world of critical academic discourse and is regarded by his peers and academics the world over (even those who don't agree with him)as being incredibly intelligent and very creative. If the text doesn't "mean" anything to you and it seems like an incomprehensible mess then i suggest you stick to material that is more in your league. Please remember that a layperson doesn't read a medical journal on oncology for the fun of it, nor does he/she spend hours deep in Fundamentals of Corporate Finance. A medical doctor who specializes in the treatment of cancer will probably read the former and an MBA or PHD business or accounting guru the latter. Therefore just because you can speak and read English please don't mistake this for a license to read, comprehend and comment on this type of academic text. To be perfectly honest this text is for someone with at least a graduate background in English Lit, Philosophy, Media Studies, Cultural studies etc. To actually comment with some authority on the text you should at least have a post-graduate degree such as a Masters or Doctorate. To put my argument in perspective; you wouldn't read a text on oncology and surgical procedures and comment on it unless you were a medical doctor and even more so, an oncologist. I think the person who would attack this kind of text would do likewise with Derrida, Foucault, Lyotard, Spivak....ohhhh jeez!!! imagine the field day they would have with Heidegger's "Being and Time".

Errors.
The collection is very interesting, in that one gets a sense of Zizek's theoretical perspective and methodological tendencies across a range of texts.It also forces one to reconsider Lacan's work.Unfortunately, the book itself is riddled with typographical errors.The publisher should be thoroughly embarrassed by this.

An excellent intellectual high!
Slavoj Zizek, one of the greatest minds of the late 20th century, is well repersented in this excellent collection of essays. His points of view on everything (women, philosophy, and culture) come through loud and clear.The integration of psychoanalytic, marxist, poststructural, and postmoderncritiques is refreshing and his treatment of Lacan through examples frompop culture is particuraly wonderful as it aids those that are new to thesubject matter (great teaching tool!). A must read for anyone that wants toget a closer look at the spectre of today's somewhat frightening culture. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1901-    2. 1901-1981    3. Essays    4. Feminism & Feminist Theory    5. History & Surveys - Modern    6. Lacan, Jacques,    7. Literature - Classics / Criticism    8. Movements - Psychoanalysis    9. Psychoanalysis    10. Psychology    11. Cultural studies    12. LACAN, JACQUES, 1901-1981    13. Psychoanalysis & psychoanalytical theory    14. Psychology & Psychiatry / Psychoanalysis    15. Sociology, Social Studies    16. Western philosophy, from c 1900 -   

Reviews (2)

good overview
As a student of feminist theory and gender in development, this book came a little late for me - or some chapters did.
Good Overview of the Literature
"The Women, Gender and Development Reader" is a useful compilation of articles on the subject. It has five parts, each dealing with a different aspect of studies on women and development. It starts outwith a theoretical section that includes landmark articles, or excerptsfrom studies, by leading feminist scholars. Subsequent sections includearticles on women and the household economy, women in the global economy,women's situation under social transformation in different parts of theworld and finally women's movements in the developing world.This book isa welcome addition to publications on the subject of women and developmentand fills an important gap. It has both a broad theoretical and globalperspective and pieces on specific communities around the world. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Developing countries    2. Economic conditions    3. Gender Studies    4. History: World    5. Social Science    6. Social conditions    7. Sociology    8. Women    9. Women in development    10. Women's Studies - General    11. Development studies    12. Feminism   

Reviews (4)

Haraway Review
A note to be made to any potential readers regarding the accessibility of this book is that there are two areas in which some background is extremely helpful: critical theory (certain terms and concepts) and Sandra Harding's idea of strong objectivity, which is used, in Haraway's altered form, as a central concept in the book.Neither critical theory terminology nor strong objectivity is explained in enough depth for a reader unfamiliar with them to understand well, and, in the case of the latter, have a strong enough grasp to consider crucial differences in the approaches of Harding and Haraway.
Postmodern tropes that get lost
Haraway attempts to pull together many different disciplines, thoughts, and ideas in her book, but unfortunately there is no praxis. Hopefully, the future of science studies
Haraway's work is stunning in the risks she takes. Refusing to buy into categorical distinctions between disciplines, Haraway references and subreferences science, literature, technology, art, and anything else that could possibly be used to emphasize the cultural production of knowledge. I disagree with just about all of Haraway's conclusions about capitalism, but I love what she says about technology, and find in her work a fresh and innovative alternative to that of stuffy analytic philosophers and overly pedantic sociologists of science. Not the easiest read, but worth a look if you're into SSK, STS, HPS or any other initials having to do with the study of science. Whether you take the book to bed with you at night or toss it out the nearest fifth story window, Haraway's work is bound to impress. Check it out. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Feminism & Feminist Theory    2. Feminist criticism    3. Feminist theory    4. Science    5. Social aspects    6. Sociology    7. Technology    8. Anthropology    9. Art / Popular Culture    10. Cultural studies    11. Feminism   

Reviews (3)

Read this book
Nussbaum's book is excellent reading for those with little background in philosophy or economics. She explains her important ideas about the goals of development very clearly. The point of development is to permit people to achieve a fully human functioning. What she writes might strike many readers as, well, just common sense. Debating Development
Those who have read Nussbaum's other books and essays on women, development and political theory will find here a carefully argued, contextually sensitive and principled approach to questions of globaljustice and human flourishing.Drawing on the work of Nobel laureateAmartya Sen (source of "the capabilities approach") and her own Aristotelian social philosophy, Nussbaum takes a hard look at key debatesabout development, rejecting both free market fundamentalism andunderexamined cultural relativism.Her universalist stance iscontroversial but courageous, a sincere effort to think through a politicalethic in the wake of globalization. Not everyone will agree with Nussbaum,but she asks the right questions and lays out positions to be argued with.

Kipling with Marx in hand
For anyone who has read Nussbaum's books on political issues, her latest is more of the same: the West has a moral obligation to rectify various wrongs suffered by women due to cultural/religious belief systems.All ofthis would be fascinating if Nussbaum would bother to first provide anargument stating why her thick conception of the Good must take precedenceover those she dismisses out of hand.The irony here is that many of thethings she points to as evil are the same things the British thoughtnecessary to abolish when India was treated as a colony.Why, then, wasimperialism bad then but perfectly okay now that self-styled leftists likecomrade Nussbaum have decided its time their global vision of worldsocialism be forced on these other cultures?The problem for Nussbaum isthat whatever hybrid version of political liberalism she wants to ascribeto has to be argued for -- it cannot simply be assumed.For instance, forNussbaum the treatment of a woman in an islamic society might seem at oddswith a Kantian notion of moral autonomy and the dignity of treating personsas ends in themselves.Consequently,if one adopts such a view of the morallife (and this ought to be argued for first), then such societies may seemmorally undeveloped and thus harmful to their members.However, to amuslim observing the amount of autonomy people have in the West, the factthat our children are allowed certain kinds of entertainments, that womenare displayed in advertisments in various stages of undress may indicate tothem an equally appalling level of harm we allow our children and women toendure.In the end, the arguments go deeper than what Nussbaum providessince they go to questions concerning human nature, the Good, the status ofNatural Rights, the role of Reason in ethical theories, and whether ateleological or deontological theory of morality best accords with the truenature of the good.These seem to be the questions most of Nussbaum's'applied theory' begs. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Feminism & Feminist Theory    2. General    3. Philosophy    4. Political    5. Sociology    6. Women's Studies - General    7. Feminism    8. Philosophy / General    9. Social & political philosophy    10. Women in development   

Reviews (2)

This really is essential
Schneir's collection of various (proto)feminist writings is essential to understand the more familiar feminist "movement," the second wave of the 60s and 70s.Feminism did not emerge out of vacuum in the sixties; rather, it has a history of courageous women (and men) struggling for the most basic rights we take for granted today.Although the excerpts are not long, and I recommend reading the documents in full, this is an excellent introductory volume.You can read through it or skip around, but either way you come away with a knowledge and appreciation for the brave souls who came before.Check out Schneir's second volume, which deals the Second Wave, from de Beauvoir to Anita Hill.

reader from Illinois
I was quite surprised by the reality of the book.It hit me hard.I then realized that women were desperately oppressed in earlier days.I thought we had it bad now...Oh boy was I wrong.I will pass this on to mydaughter-if I ever decide to have one...:) ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Feminism    2. Feminism & Feminist Theory    3. History    4. Sociology    5. Sources    6. Women    7. Women's Studies - General    8. Women's rights    9. Social Science / Women's Studies    10. Sociology, Social Studies   

Reviews (3)

An engaging, well-balanced window on women's history
I have been using this text for several years with adult students of American women's history.They have found it very readable -- thorough, well-balanced, and engaging.Woloch pairs chapters so that the first chapter in each pair gives a close-up view of a person or event, and the following chapter presents the social, cultural and economic context for that close-up view.In this way, we have a chance both to experience "up close and personal" glimpses of history and to gain deeper, more multi-facted historical awareness.Woloch's voice is precise and well-measured, but not without vitality and humor.Her book provides a wonderfully comprehensive and comprehensible overview of the history of women in America.

i suggest skipping this one...
We are reading this book in my Women's History class in order to get some background information on the primary sources we read. Some historical information in here is helpful, but the writing is extremely reduntant and filled with useless information. When the author isnt repeating herself, she is contradicting herself. As I said, this book is worth skipping.

It takes feminism way too far.
She uses a lot of references, but overall the subject matter could be made a hell of a lot more interesting. She can put you to sleep, which is unfortunate because there are still not enough attention on women in UShistory. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. History    2. History: American    3. Sociology    4. Sociology Of Women    5. United States    6. United States - General    7. Women    8. Women In The U.S.    9. Women's Studies - General    10. Feminism    11. History / United States / General    12. Social history    13. USA   

Reviews (26)

Sorry, but no.
Sorry, but I can't take seriously anything that lists Seventeen magazine as a feminist resource for young women.I read this when I was still a teenager, the target audience, and still found it awful.

great intro to feminism
this is a great introduction to feminism for young people.it was one of the first women's studies books i read, and it inspired me to read more, and eventually get my minor in women's studies.

Modern Feminism At It's Best
This book is incredible.It does a wonderful job thoroughly reviewing feminism from it's birth to the modern age.Most importantly, this book manages to broaden the American feminist scope to consider women's issues on a racial, cultural and socioeconomic level.Highly recommended to anyone (especially "young feminists") with an interest in the modern implications of the international women's movement. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Attitudes    2. Feminism    3. Feminism & Feminist Theory    4. Social Science    5. Sociology    6. United States    7. Women's Studies - General    8. Young women    9. Social Science / Feminism & Feminist Theory