Irigarays work remains largely absent from queer theory probably because it fails to account for a broader spectrum of sexual difference, including trans, genderqueer, gender fluid, and intersex individuals huffer, 2010. More than 1 million books in pdf, epub, mobi, tuebl and audiobook formats. In the recently published book feminist interpretations of plato, however, there is an. Revisiting luce irigarays aesthetics, examines possibilities for creating a feminine genealogy through art. Philosophy, feminist literary criticism and the difference 24 feminism is held, a feminism that is able to permeate all those areas where it is applied. And just like cixous and kristeva, heavily engages with the theories of psychoanalysis, linguistic and poststructuralism, postmodern and other. Irigaray s analysis of womens exclusion from culture and her use of strategic essentialism have been enormously influential in contemporary feminist theory. Irigaray s philosophy of sexual difference instructor. The irigaray reader is a collection of her most important paeprs to date, ranging across feminism, philosophy, psychoanalysis and linguistics. Women have something valuable to contribute to every aspect of the world. Irigarays project shows how her most recent work is extremely important for feminist theory, insofar as it elaborates a philosophical and ethical vision of how to improve the often impoverished andor violent relations between men and women. Speculum of the other woman by luce irigaray is incontestably one of the most important works in feminist theory to have been published in this generation. She is best known for her works speculum of the other woman and.
Key concepts queer theory heterosexual matrix performativity. Luce irigaray is one of the leading french feminist philosophers and psychoanalysts. Equality between men and women, she argues, cannot be achieved without a theory of gender as sexed and a rewriting of the rights and obligations of each sex, qua different, in social rights and obligations. Reineke university of northern iowa in this essay, i will examine primary themes of vecriture feminine, as they are represented by one of the most provocative and articulate of the new french feminists. Gill tr, cornell university press 1985 irigarays thinking on language is so complex and informed by so many difficult methodological frameworks. Pdf luce irigaray and the philosophy of sexual difference. Dialogue is a privileged method in luce irigarays work. But jane marcus and others responded that if feminists adopt too wide a. This lecture introduces feminist literary criticism by giving a history of feminism and introducing the. Yet most of her major work remains still untranslated. Irigarays critique has important implications for the construction of a feminist. This article will discuss psychoanalytic feminism, not feminist psychoanalysis i.
Speaking as a woman margaret whitford although luce irigarays name is beginning to become more familiar in england, her work has not, for the most part, been translated, so that nonfrenchspeaking readers have had to confine themselves to the odd bits and pieces the translation of an interview in. Luce irigaray and psychoanalytic feminism literary theory. The secondwave of feminism broadened the issue towards the demand for gender equality. Feminist theory is the extension of feminism into theoretical, fictional, or philosophical discourse. While there are certainly conceptions of the human person at play in various feminist philosophies at the turn of the 20th century, they are often incorporated.
Even in parts of french feminist theory where a range of theorists are panoramically cited and dis. So huntingtons book, ecstatic subjects, utopia, and recognition. Philosophy, feminist literary criticism and the difference. Her work is studied and classified as psychoanalysis, literary theory or feminist theory,but rarely as philos ophy. As an oppressed group, women have been unable to achieve their potential, receive rewards, or gain full participation in society. Luce irigarays critique of rationality springerlink. Psychoanalytic feminism stanford encyclopedia of philosophy.
Dec 19, 2016 home feminism luce irigaray and psychoanalytic feminism. Platos hystera, from speculum of the other woman the belgianfrench feminist. Although there are countless feminist readings of plato and readings of plato as a feminist, the french feminist theorist luce irigarays extendednearly 200 page. Her work has generated productive discussions about how to define femininity and sexual difference, whether strategic essentialism should be employed, and assessing the risk involved.
Kolodny advocated a playful pluralism that encompasses a variety of critical schools and methods. Irigarays work first entered the angloamerican scene of feminist thought alongside the writings of cixous, julia kristeva, sarah kofman, christine delphy, michele le doeuff, and others. Luce irigaray and psychoanalytic feminism literary. An appreciation of monique wittigs writings in context, feminist studies 7, no. Irigaray and wittig, specifically provocative interrogations of the phallocentric culture, to mention a few. Her alleged failure to be clear, womna to give a concrete, linear feminist theory, are invitations for readers to imagine their own vision for the future. In her works like speculum of the other woman translated 1985 and this sex which is not one 1987, luce irigaray has argued that the woman has been constructed as the specular other of man in all. Although there are countless feminist readings of plato and readings of plato as a feminist, the french feminist theorist luce irigaray s extendednearly 200 page. At this point, we need to look at the conflict of two separate views, both present in contemporary feminism.
Luce irigaray and psychoanalytic feminism by nasrullah mambrol on december 19, 2016 2. But as soon as one recognizes that, for huntington, the main concern of feminism is to develop a liberationist social theory that requires a selfaware agent. Luce irigarays critique of masculine language systems follows logically from her broader critique of history and culture first elaborated 40 years ago in speculum. It aims to understand the nature of gender inequality.
Home feminism luce irigaray and psychoanalytic feminism. Myths, matricide and maternal subjectivity in irigaray myths, matricide and maternal subjectivity in irigaray. This paper is about a feminist philosopher, luce irigaray, whose work raises particular difficulties for the anglosaxon reader unfamiliar with the continental tradition of philosophy. Combahee river collective, a black feminist statement 197765.
Irigaray s first and most well known book, published in 1974, was speculum of the other woman 1974, which analyzes the texts of freud. For the profession of psychoanalysis, irigaray believes, female sexuality has remained a dark continent, unfathomable and unapproachable. Luce irigaray, born in 1930, is a highly influential belgianborn french feminist who along with feminists like helen cixous, julia kristeva and many others belongs to that school of feminism referred as french feminism. In the recently published book feminist interpretations of plato, however, there is an essay by irigaray. At stake in her argument is the claim that the notion of subjectivity is subordinate to a psychological structure of gender dominance. Luce irigaray, from this sex which is not one from this sex which is not one 197766. Irigaray was interpreted as one voice in french feminism that differed from angloamerican feminism because of the emphasis on positive sexual. Irigaray is one of the most well know and controversial of radical thinkers, who has contributed to the feminist challenge to western thought in the areas of linguistics, psychoanalysis, philosophy and theories of representation. This article extends irigarays work in order to theorise breastfeeding from a perspective that is both feminist and queer.
Introduction to luce irigaray s and the one doesnt stir without the other, signs 7, no. It examines womens and mens social roles, experiences, interests, chores, and feminist politics in a variety of fields, such as anthropology and sociology, communication, media studies, psychoanalysis, home economics, literature. Irigarays analysis of womens exclusion from culture and her use of strategic essentialism have been enormously influential in contemporary feminist theory. Feminist theory and the politics of french classicism1 miriam leonard i although there are countless feminist readings of plato and readings of plato as a feminist, 2 the french feminist theorist luce irigarays extendednearly 200 page. Irigaray, luce internet encyclopedia of philosophy. Dialogue is a privileged method in luce irigaray s work. Irigaray was able to find an audience in feminist circles. Irigarays first and most well known book, published in 1974, was speculum of the other woman 1974, which analyzes the texts of freud, hegel, plato. Introduction feminist theorists over the past 30 years, while rejecting any sort of univocal trajectory in coming to grips with constructions of the body as a site for material and social practice in culture and literature. Luce irigaray, entry in the internet encyclopedia of philosophy, by sarah k.
Feminist theory and the practice of female genital mutilation fgm barbara s. Irigarays philosophy of sexual difference instructor. Failure to see the importance of changing language is an impediment to real change. Introduction to luce irigarays and the one doesnt stir without the other, signs 7, no. Jun 30, 2019 speculum of the other woman by luce irigaray is incontestably one of the most important works in feminist theory to have been published in this generation. The womens movement mlf in paris is very factional, but since 1970 irigaray has refused to belong to any one group. Christian feminist theology christianitys encounter with feminism might be one of the most significant revolutions ever to happen within the christian tradition, rivaling the impact of the early councils or the reformation in its implications for the future of christian belief and practice. Kristeva, heidegger, irigaray, may seem to make unnatural allies of feminist concerns and this most manly philosopher. French feminist theory, at the womens studies resources website, maintained by karla tonella, university of iowa. Search for luce irigaray books in the search form now, download or read books for free, just by creating an account to enter our library.
Feminist theory and the practice of female genital mutilation. Showalters historical approach to womens culture allowed a feminist critic to use theories based on nonfeminist disciplines. Irigaray speculum of the other woman pdf carlon robbins phils reading response 120510 irigaray. The second wave collects many of the major essays of feminist theory of the past forty years. This article extends irigaray s work in order to theorise breastfeeding from a perspective that is both feminist and queer.
Key concepts hegemonic masculinity patriarchal dividend. When our lips speak together publishers note and notes on selected terms 9. There is no original or primary gender a drag imitates, but gender is a kind of. Irigaray and miller both understand art as potentially. Theory of the subject has always been appropriated by the masculine irigaray 1985a, 346. Luce irigaray born 3 may 1930 is a belgian born french feminist, philosopher, linguist, psycholinguist, psychoanalyst and cultural theorist who examined the uses and misuses of language in relation to women. Conflicting images of god in early christianity 197664. Luce irigaray and feminist pedagogy valuing difference. Feminist theory breastfeeding and sexual difference. Between feminism and psychoanalysis between feminism and psychoanalysis.
Psychoanalysis develops a theory of the unconscious that links sexuality and. Jul 11, 2019 luce irigaray speculum of the other woman pdf luce irigaray is a belgianborn french feminist, philosopher, linguist, psycholinguist, psychoanalyst and cultural theorist. Feminist perspectives on the body first published mon jun 28, 2010. Feminist perspectives on the body stanford encyclopedia of. Jul 10, 2019 irigarays analysis of womens exclusion from culture and her use of strategic essentialism have been enormously influential in contemporary feminist theory. Feminist theory and the practice of female genital. Nancy chodorow, the sexual sociology of adult life from the reproduction of mothering. In her works like speculum of the other woman translated 1985 and this sex which is not one 1987, luce irigaray has argued that the woman has been constructed as the specular other of man in all western discourses. Luce irigaray born 3 may 1930 is a belgianborn french feminist, philosopher, linguist, psycholinguist, psychoanalyst and cultural theorist who examined the uses and misuses of language in relation to women. Irigaray and cixous dr ehsan azari stanizai despite its critique as part of the ageold hegemonic patriarchal and phallocentric discourse in the western world, psychoanalysis has become a hinge between the movement of feminism and its foundational theoretical parlance. Jun 06, 20 equality between men and women, she argues, cannot be achieved without a theory of gender as sexed and a rewriting of the rights and obligations of each sex, qua different, in social rights and obligations. While there are certainly conceptions of the human person at play in various feminist philosophies at the turn of the 20th century, they are often incorporated as parts or functions of historical, biological. A number of them appear here for the first time in english.
An indispensable work for students of philosophy, literary theory, feminist theory, linguistics and cultural studies. Luce irigaray insists that sexual difference demands a new poetics, a language that is dynamic and fluid, capable of expressing difference while always keeping open the possibility of transformation and change. In this book, whitford offers a reading oflrigaray that sees her first and foremost as a feminist philos opher. She was involved in demonstrations for contraception and abortion rights. Difference feminism burst through into feminism at the end of the 1970s.