fbpx
Wikipedia

Feminist existentialism

January 01, 1970

Feminism is a collection of movements aimed at defining, establishing, and defending equal political, economic, and social rights for women.[1][2] Existentialism is a philosophical and cultural movement which holds that the starting point of philosophical thinking must be the individual and the experiences of the individual, that moral thinking and scientific thinking together are not sufficient for understanding all of human existence, and, therefore, that a further set of categories, governed by the norm of authenticity, is necessary to understand human existence.[3][4][5] (Authenticity, in the context of existentialism, is to recognize the responsibility we have for our existence.[6]) This philosophy analyzes relationships between the individual and things, or other human beings, and how they limit or condition choice.[7]

Existentialist feminists emphasize concepts such as freedom, interpersonal relationships, and the experience of living as a human body.[8] They value the capacity for radical change, but recognize that factors such as self-deception and the anxiety caused by the possibility of change can limit it. Many are dedicated to exposing and undermining socially imposed gender roles and cultural constructs limiting women's self-determination, and criticize post-structuralist feminists who deny the intrinsic freedom of individual women.[9] A woman who makes considered choices regarding her way of life and suffers the anxiety associated with that freedom, isolation, or nonconformity, yet remains free, demonstrates the tenets of existentialism.[10] The novels of Kate Chopin, Doris Lessing, Joan Didion, Margaret Atwood, and Margaret Drabble include such existential heroines.

Major existential feminists edit

Simone de Beauvoir was a renowned existentialist and one of the principal founders of second-wave feminism.[8] Beauvoir examined women's subordinate role as the 'Other', patriarchally forced into immanence[11] in her book, The Second Sex, which some claim to be the culmination of her existential ethics.[12] The book includes the famous line, "One is not born but becomes a woman," introducing what has come to be called the sex-gender distinction. Beauvoir's The Second Sex provided the vocabulary for analyzing the social constructions of femininity and the structure for critiquing those constructions, which was used as a liberating tool by attending to the ways in which patriarchal structures used sexual difference to deprive women of the intrinsic freedom of their "can do" bodies.[13] Some say Beauvoir is farther reaching than Sartre[14] despite often being overlooked in many comprehensive works about existentialist feminism.[12]

Jean-Paul Sartre was a French philosopher, existentialist and phenomenologist who contributed greatly to existential feminism through works like Existential Psychoanalysis.[15] In this work, Sartre claims that the individual is the intersection of universal schemata and he rejects the idea of a pure individual.[15]

Maurice Merleau-Ponty was another French philosopher who contributed many existential works to the field. Many following theorists, such as Judith Butler, critiqued his methods, including his sexual ideology.[8] Other theorists omit him, viewing him as a "Sartre knock-off".[12]

Critiques edit

Simone de Beauvoir edit

Some critiques of the field are of Beauvoir and her portrayal of existentialist feminism specifically. Gwendolyn Dolske critiques that Beauvoir is inconsistent between her works, noting that the women in Beauvoir's fictional works resign to cultural norms rather than conquering their Otherness.[16] Margaret Simons critiques Beauvoir's inability to transfer her work in theory into praxis.[11]

Critiques against sexism edit

However, most of the critiques are of the limitations of the field overall. Margery Collins and Christine Pierce fault Sartre's limited anti-essentialism for his sexist views[8] which Hazel Barnes then refutes.[8] Maryellen MacGuigan criticizes Ortega's view of women's inferiority, Julia Maria's sexuate condition, and Frederick Buyendijk's narrative of women's experience.[8]

Extension to gender and race studies edit

Jo-Ann Pilardi outlines the female eroticism in Beauvoir's work[8] and Julien Murphy compares the gaze or look in Sartre to Adrienne Rich.[8] Nancy Potter aligns female incest survivors' experiences with dread and anxiety.[8] Janice McLane uses Merleau-Ponty's Concept of flesh to describe self-mutilation.[8] Shannon Sullivan criticizes Merleau-Ponty's anonymous body.[8] Linda Bell moves Sartre's notion of authenticity from feminist existentialism to feminist ethics.[8] T. Denean Sharpley-Whiting uses Fanon's analyses of racist and colonized subjectivities to discuss feminism.[8]

References edit

  1. ^ "Feminism – Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary". merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 12 June 2011.
  2. ^ "Definition of feminism noun from Cambridge Dictionary Online: Free English Dictionary and Thesaurus". dictionary.cambridge.org. Retrieved 12 June 2011.
  3. ^ Mullarkey, John, and Beth Lord (eds.). The Continuum Companion to Continental Philosophy. London, 2009, p. 309
  4. ^ Stewart, Jon. Kierkegaard and Existentialism. Farnham, England, 2010, p. ix
  5. ^ Crowell, Steven (October 2010). "Existentialism". Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Retrieved 2012-04-12.
  6. ^ Varga, Somogy; Guignon, Charles (2016-01-01). Zalta, Edward N. (ed.). The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Summer 2016 ed.).
  7. ^ Abbagnano, Nicole. "Existentialism (philosophy)". Britannica Online Encyclopedia. Retrieved 10 October 2011.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Larrabee, Mary Jeanne (2000). Code, Lorraine (ed.). "Existentialist Feminism". Encyclopedia of Feminist Theories: 187–188. ISBN 0415132746.
  9. ^ Code, Lorraine (2000). Encyclopedia of Feminist Theories. London and New York City: Routledge World Reference, Taylor & Francis. p. 266. ISBN 0415132746. Retrieved September 27, 2012.
  10. ^ Hiatt, Mary P. "Existentialism and Feminism". ERIC: Education Resources Information Center. Retrieved September 27, 2012.
  11. ^ a b Simons, Margaret (1995). Feminist Interpretations of Simone de Beauvoir. University Park, PA: Pennsylvania State University Press. pp. 30–32. ISBN 978-0271014128.
  12. ^ a b c Simons, Margaret (1999). Beauvoir and the Second Sex: Feminism, Race, and the Origins of Existentialism. Lanham, Md: Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 101–114. ISBN 978-0847692569.
  13. ^ Bergoffen, Debra. "Simone de Beauvoir". Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Retrieved 2 December 2011.
  14. ^ Moi, Toril (January 2009). "What Can Literature Do? Simone de Beauvoir as a Literary Theorist". Publications of the Modern Language Association of America. 124 (1): 189–198. doi:10.1632/pmla.2009.124.1.189. JSTOR 25614258. S2CID 162313716.
  15. ^ a b Sartre, Jean-Paul (1962). Existential Psychoanalysis. Translated by Barnes, Hazel. Chicago: Regnery. pp. 19–152.
  16. ^ Dolske, Gwendolyn (February 2014). "Existential Destruction: de Beauvoir's Fictional Portrayal of Woman's Situation". Women's Studies. 43 (2): 155–169. doi:10.1080/00497878.2014.863104. S2CID 144543548.

Further reading edit

Joseph Mahon. Existentialism, Feminism and Simone De Beauvoir. Palgrave Macmillan. 1997.

January 01, 1970
feminist, existentialism, feminism, collection, movements, aimed, defining, establishing, defending, equal, political, economic, social, rights, women, existentialism, philosophical, cultural, movement, which, holds, that, starting, point, philosophical, think. Feminism is a collection of movements aimed at defining establishing and defending equal political economic and social rights for women 1 2 Existentialism is a philosophical and cultural movement which holds that the starting point of philosophical thinking must be the individual and the experiences of the individual that moral thinking and scientific thinking together are not sufficient for understanding all of human existence and therefore that a further set of categories governed by the norm of authenticity is necessary to understand human existence 3 4 5 Authenticity in the context of existentialism is to recognize the responsibility we have for our existence 6 This philosophy analyzes relationships between the individual and things or other human beings and how they limit or condition choice 7 Existentialist feminists emphasize concepts such as freedom interpersonal relationships and the experience of living as a human body 8 They value the capacity for radical change but recognize that factors such as self deception and the anxiety caused by the possibility of change can limit it Many are dedicated to exposing and undermining socially imposed gender roles and cultural constructs limiting women s self determination and criticize post structuralist feminists who deny the intrinsic freedom of individual women 9 A woman who makes considered choices regarding her way of life and suffers the anxiety associated with that freedom isolation or nonconformity yet remains free demonstrates the tenets of existentialism 10 The novels of Kate Chopin Doris Lessing Joan Didion Margaret Atwood and Margaret Drabble include such existential heroines Contents 1 Major existential feminists 2 Critiques 2 1 Simone de Beauvoir 2 2 Critiques against sexism 2 3 Extension to gender and race studies 3 References 4 Further readingMajor existential feminists editSimone de Beauvoir was a renowned existentialist and one of the principal founders of second wave feminism 8 Beauvoir examined women s subordinate role as the Other patriarchally forced into immanence 11 in her book The Second Sex which some claim to be the culmination of her existential ethics 12 The book includes the famous line One is not born but becomes a woman introducing what has come to be called the sex gender distinction Beauvoir s The Second Sex provided the vocabulary for analyzing the social constructions of femininity and the structure for critiquing those constructions which was used as a liberating tool by attending to the ways in which patriarchal structures used sexual difference to deprive women of the intrinsic freedom of their can do bodies 13 Some say Beauvoir is farther reaching than Sartre 14 despite often being overlooked in many comprehensive works about existentialist feminism 12 Jean Paul Sartre was a French philosopher existentialist and phenomenologist who contributed greatly to existential feminism through works like Existential Psychoanalysis 15 In this work Sartre claims that the individual is the intersection of universal schemata and he rejects the idea of a pure individual 15 Maurice Merleau Ponty was another French philosopher who contributed many existential works to the field Many following theorists such as Judith Butler critiqued his methods including his sexual ideology 8 Other theorists omit him viewing him as a Sartre knock off 12 Critiques editSimone de Beauvoir edit Some critiques of the field are of Beauvoir and her portrayal of existentialist feminism specifically Gwendolyn Dolske critiques that Beauvoir is inconsistent between her works noting that the women in Beauvoir s fictional works resign to cultural norms rather than conquering their Otherness 16 Margaret Simons critiques Beauvoir s inability to transfer her work in theory into praxis 11 Critiques against sexism edit However most of the critiques are of the limitations of the field overall Margery Collins and Christine Pierce fault Sartre s limited anti essentialism for his sexist views 8 which Hazel Barnes then refutes 8 Maryellen MacGuigan criticizes Ortega s view of women s inferiority Julia Maria s sexuate condition and Frederick Buyendijk s narrative of women s experience 8 Extension to gender and race studies edit Jo Ann Pilardi outlines the female eroticism in Beauvoir s work 8 and Julien Murphy compares the gaze or look in Sartre to Adrienne Rich 8 Nancy Potter aligns female incest survivors experiences with dread and anxiety 8 Janice McLane uses Merleau Ponty s Concept of flesh to describe self mutilation 8 Shannon Sullivan criticizes Merleau Ponty s anonymous body 8 Linda Bell moves Sartre s notion of authenticity from feminist existentialism to feminist ethics 8 T Denean Sharpley Whiting uses Fanon s analyses of racist and colonized subjectivities to discuss feminism 8 References edit Feminism Definition and More from the Free Merriam Webster Dictionary merriam webster com Retrieved 12 June 2011 Definition of feminism noun from Cambridge Dictionary Online Free English Dictionary and Thesaurus dictionary cambridge org Retrieved 12 June 2011 Mullarkey John and Beth Lord eds The Continuum Companion to Continental Philosophy London 2009 p 309 Stewart Jon Kierkegaard and Existentialism Farnham England 2010 p ix Crowell Steven October 2010 Existentialism Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy Retrieved 2012 04 12 Varga Somogy Guignon Charles 2016 01 01 Zalta Edward N ed The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy Summer 2016 ed Abbagnano Nicole Existentialism philosophy Britannica Online Encyclopedia Retrieved 10 October 2011 a b c d e f g h i j k l m Larrabee Mary Jeanne 2000 Code Lorraine ed Existentialist Feminism Encyclopedia of Feminist Theories 187 188 ISBN 0415132746 Code Lorraine 2000 Encyclopedia of Feminist Theories London and New York City Routledge World Reference Taylor amp Francis p 266 ISBN 0415132746 Retrieved September 27 2012 Hiatt Mary P Existentialism and Feminism ERIC Education Resources Information Center Retrieved September 27 2012 a b Simons Margaret 1995 Feminist Interpretations of Simone de Beauvoir University Park PA Pennsylvania State University Press pp 30 32 ISBN 978 0271014128 a b c Simons Margaret 1999 Beauvoir and the Second Sex Feminism Race and the Origins of Existentialism Lanham Md Rowman amp Littlefield pp 101 114 ISBN 978 0847692569 Bergoffen Debra Simone de Beauvoir Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy Retrieved 2 December 2011 Moi Toril January 2009 What Can Literature Do Simone de Beauvoir as a Literary Theorist Publications of the Modern Language Association of America 124 1 189 198 doi 10 1632 pmla 2009 124 1 189 JSTOR 25614258 S2CID 162313716 a b Sartre Jean Paul 1962 Existential Psychoanalysis Translated by Barnes Hazel Chicago Regnery pp 19 152 Dolske Gwendolyn February 2014 Existential Destruction de Beauvoir s Fictional Portrayal of Woman s Situation Women s Studies 43 2 155 169 doi 10 1080 00497878 2014 863104 S2CID 144543548 Further reading editJoseph Mahon Existentialism Feminism and Simone De Beauvoir Palgrave Macmillan 1997 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Feminist existentialism amp oldid 1181814569, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.