Hi Dan
I am far from convinced you have to begin any discussion on gender
revering Judith Butler et al. This short but sprightly volume remains my
alma mater:
Connell, R. W. (2002) 'Gender' (Cambridge: Polity)
Wasalaam
Yakoub
http://www.bayyinat.org.uk/
-----Original Message-----
From: Gender related to the study and practice of religion
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Dan
Sent: 30 April 2005 13:22
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: feminist / gender theorists
Hi folks,
I am studying at SOAS and am trying to decide what units to take next
year. I am considering taking a unit in gender and religion, but have
some hesitations which basically stem from my initial perceptions of
gender theory. I’ll try and explain what I mean.
One type of theory I keep coming across seems to have arisen out of a
psychoanalytic background and seems especially popular in literary
theory. I find this very puzzling, as psychoanalysis has been become
little more than an historical footnote in the history of psychology
within the field of psychology itself – a discipline that has many
female as well as male adherents. So how can we base our methodology on
this foundation ?
My second problem is more personal, but as a Buddhist I am particularly
influenced by the philosophy of the Mahayana and consider it to be the
best description of the way things are that I have encountered. By
contrast, I am not a big fan of post-modernism, as it seems obsessed
with what buddhist philosophy would call absolute truth and has a
potential to get caught in a never-ending spiral into the void of
subjectivity – a problem which is guarded against from the outset in
Mahayana philosophy with the notion of relative truth. It seems to me a
lot of contemporary feminist theory is based on post-modern theory.
Although I appreciate I may be misrepresenting post-modernism, can
anyone point me towards any feminist / gender theorists who do not
derive their inspiration from psychoanalytic or post-modern backgrounds
?
Many thanks in advance,
Dan D
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