WHY FEMINISM MATTERS : Feminism Lost and Found

Book Details

• Author: Kath Woodward, Sophie Woodward

• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan

• Language: English

• Binding: Hardcover

• Number of Pages: 199

• Release Date: 17-01-2024

• ISBN: 9781349960873

About the Book

This book presents a creative critique of contemporary feminist theories and practices, emphasizing the importance of feminism in the 21st century. Written by a mother-daughter author team, Kath and Sophie Woodward, it offers a cross-generational dialogue within feminism, demonstrating its ongoing relevance today. The co-authorship adds a unique dynamic, showing how past and present feminisms can be combined to revitalize women's voices and feminist politics.

The authors argue that feminist theory should remain connected to lived experiences, challenging the contemporary trend of distancing theory from practice. The book explores key feminist themes such as technology's impact, the politics of difference, material bodies, and the visibility and invisibility of women. It is an engaging examination of feminist methodologies, technological changes, and how these influence gender and identity in the modern world.

Contents

1. Contemporary Voices: Starting Out

2. I Said, She Said, We Said

3. The Promise of Technoscience

4. A Grown-up Politics of Difference

5. Visibility and Invisibility, Silence, Absences

6. Material Bodies: Bodies as Situations

7. Conclusion

About the Authors

Kath Woodward is a Professor of Sociology at Open University, UK. She specializes in feminist theories, gender, race, diversity, and embodiment, particularly in the field of sport. Her notable publications include Embodied Sporting Practices, Boxing, Identity and Masculinity: The 'I' of the Tiger, and Understanding Identity.

Sophie Woodward is a Lecturer in Sociology at Manchester University, UK, and an anthropologist specializing in material culture, clothing, and everyday life practices. She is the author of Why Women Wear What They Wear and has written extensively on the social significance of clothing and fashion.