Sexual/Textual Politics

This book examines the strengths and limitations of the two main strands in feminist criticism, the Anglo-American and the French, paying particular attention to the works of Cixous, Irigaray and Kristeva.

Zusatztext 'This book exemplifies feminist theory-making at its rigorous best.' - Women's Review Informationen zum Autor Toril Moi is James B. Duke Professor of Literature and Romance Studies at Duke University, North Carolina. She is the author of several influential works on feminist theory, including What is a Woman? Klappentext This book examines the strengths and limitations of the two main strands in feminist criticism, the Anglo-American and the French, paying particular attention to the works of Cixous, Irigaray and Kristeva. Zusammenfassung This book examines the strengths and limitations of the two main strands in feminist criticism, the Anglo-American and the French, paying particular attention to the works of Cixous, Irigaray and Kristeva. Inhaltsverzeichnis Introduction: Who's afraid of Virginia Woolf? Feminist readings of Woolf; The rejection of Woolf; Rescuing Woolf for feminist politics: some points towards an alternative reading; PART I Anglo-American feminist criticism 1 Two feminist classics; Kate Millett; Mary Ellmann; 2 'Images of Women' criticism; 3 Women writing and writing about women; Towards a woman-centred perspective; 'Literary Women'; 'A Literature of Their Own'; 'The Madwoman in the Attic'; 4 Theoretical reflections; Annette Kolodny; Elaine Showalter; Myra Jehlen; PART II French feminist theory 5 From Simone de Beauvoir to Jacques Lacan; Simone de Beauvoir and Marxist feminism; French feminism after 1968; Jacques Lacan; 6 Hélène Cixous: an imaginary utopia; Patriarchal binary thought; Difference; Ecriture féminine 1) masculinity, femininity, bisexuality; The gift and the proper; Ecriture féminine 2) the source and the voice; Imaginary contradictions; Power, ideology, politics 7 Patriarchal reflections: Luce Irigaray's looking-glass; Speculum; Specul(ariz)ation and mimeticism; Freud; Mysticism; The inexorable logic of the Same; Womanspeak: a tale told by an idiot? Idealism and ahistoricism 8 Marginality and subversion: Julia Kristeva; L'Etrangère; Kristeva and Anglo-American feminist linguistics; Sex differences in language use; Sexism in language; Language, femininity, revolution; The acquisition of language; Femininity as marginality; Feminism, Marxism, anarchism ...

'This book exemplifies feminist theory-making at its rigorous best.' - Women's Review

Autorentext

Toril Moi is James B. Duke Professor of Literature and Romance Studies at Duke University, North Carolina. She is the author of several influential works on feminist theory, including What is a Woman?

Inhalt

Introduction: Who's afraid of Virginia Woolf? Feminist readings of Woolf; The rejection of Woolf; Rescuing Woolf for feminist politics: some points towards an alternative reading; PART I Anglo-American feminist criticism 1 Two feminist classics; Kate Millett; Mary Ellmann; 2 'Images of Women' criticism; 3 Women writing and writing about women; Towards a woman-centred perspective; 'Literary Women'; 'A Literature of Their Own'; 'The Madwoman in the Attic'; 4 Theoretical reflections; Annette Kolodny; Elaine Showalter; Myra Jehlen; PART II French feminist theory 5 From Simone de Beauvoir to Jacques Lacan; Simone de Beauvoir and Marxist feminism; French feminism after 1968; Jacques Lacan; 6 Hélène Cixous: an imaginary utopia; Patriarchal binary thought; Difference; Ecriture féminine 1) masculinity, femininity, bisexuality; The gift and the proper; Ecriture féminine 2) the source and the voice; Imaginary contradictions; Power, ideology, politics 7 Patriarchal reflections: Luce Irigaray's looking-glass; Speculum; Specul(ariz)ation and mimeticism; Freud; Mysticism; The inexorable logic of the Same; Womanspeak: a tale told by an idiot? Idealism and ahistoricism 8 Marginality and subversion: Julia Kristeva; L'Etrangère; Kristeva and Anglo-American feminist linguistics; Sex differences in language use; Sexism in language; Language, femininity, revolution; The acquisition of language; Femininity as marginality; Feminism, Marxism, anarchism