The Subject of Liberty
Toward a Feminist Theory of Freedom
Published on 29. September 2002
Book
Hardback
312 pages
978-0-691-09624-7 (ISBN)
Description
This book reconsiders the dominant Western understandings of freedom through the lens of women's real-life experiences of domestic violence, welfare, and Islamic veiling. Nancy Hirschmann argues that the typical approach to freedom found in political philosophy severely reduces the concept's complexity, which is more fully revealed by taking such practical issues into account. Hirschmann begins by arguing that the dominant Western understanding of freedom does not provide a conceptual vocabulary for accurately characterizing women's experiences. Often, free choice is assumed when women are in fact coerced - as when a battered woman who stays with her abuser out of fear or economic necessity is said to make this choice because it must not be so bad - and coercion is assumed when free choices are made - such as when Westerners assume that all veiled women are oppressed, even though many Islamic women view veiling as an important symbol of cultural identity. Understanding the contexts in which choices arise and are made is central to understanding that freedom is socially constructed through systems of power such as patriarchy, capitalism, and race privilege.
Social norms, practices, and language set the conditions within which choices are made, determine what options are available, and shape our individual subjectivity, desires, and self-understandings. Attending to the ways in which contexts construct us as "subjects" of liberty, Hirschmann argues, provides a firmer empirical and theoretical footing for understanding what freedom means and entails politically, intellectually, and socially.
Social norms, practices, and language set the conditions within which choices are made, determine what options are available, and shape our individual subjectivity, desires, and self-understandings. Attending to the ways in which contexts construct us as "subjects" of liberty, Hirschmann argues, provides a firmer empirical and theoretical footing for understanding what freedom means and entails politically, intellectually, and socially.
Reviews / Votes
[An] extremely well argued piece of work... [V]ery important, not just to feminist theory but to an understanding of the theory and practice of freedom in general. -- Marion Smiley Perspectives on Politics Freedom theorists, whether feminist or not, should study this importan book... With its practical applications, this is feminist theory at its best. Choice This is an impressively rich work, full of careful, closely argued encounters with philosophers and feminists from a variety of 'schools,' and well worth reading from a number of perspectives... [T]his book presents an articulate and well-informed, synoptic view of the broad problem of freedom, autonomy, and choice, and moves us firmly in the right direction. -- Robert Switzer H-Net Reviews Nancy Hirschmann has written an impressive and important book. It constitutes a significant contribution to feminist theory, political philosophy, and discussions of social construction... [T]his is a powerful book. HypatiaMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
New Jersey
United States
Target group
Professional and scholarly
College/higher education
Product notice
Trade binding
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Weight
595 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-691-09624-7 (9780691096247)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
01/2009
1st Edition
Princeton University Press
€188.95
Available for download
Person
Nancy J. Hirschmann is Associate Professor in the Political Science Department at University of Pennsylvania. She is the author of "Rethinking Obligation: A Feminist Method for Political Theory" and coeditor of "Revisioning the Political: Feminist Reconstructions of Traditional Concepts in Western Political Theory" and "Women and Welfare: Theory and Practice in the United States and Europe".
Content
Preface ix Acknowledgments xv CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 1 A MasculinistTheory of Freedom? 3 Freedom as Political, Not Philosophical 14 Feminism and Freedom 23 Defining Feminism 30 Why Not Autonomy? 35 CHAPTER TWO: The Social Construction of Freedom in Historical Perspective 40 Locke: An Educated Freedom 41 Rousseau: A "Well-Regulated "Freedom 48 Kant: An Intelligible Freedom 55 Mill: A Utilitarian Freedom 62 Conclusion: A Masculinist Freedom 70 CHAPTER THREE: Feminism and Freedom: The Social Construction Paradox 75 Social Construction and Political Theory 77 Discourse and Reality 85 The Social Construction of Freedom 93 The Paradox of Social Construction 98 CHAPTER FOUR: Internal and External Restraint: The Case of Battered Women 103 Battering in Context 108 The Thin (Black and)Blue Line: Institutional Contexts 113 Constructing Violence 121 Reconstructing Freedom 131 CHAPTER FIVE: Welfare as a Problem for Freedom Theory 138 Women's Freedom and Discourses of Welfare 140 Freedom Theory and Conservative Discourse 146 The Social Construction of Welfare Subjects 154 Freedom, Care, and Welfare Rights 158 CHAPTER SIX: Eastern Veiling, Western Freedom? 170 "The Veil" as Discursive and Social Symbolization 175 Autonomy and Freedom in Contexts of Community 185 Feminism and Freedom: Cross-Cultural Possibilities 192 CHAPTER SEVEN: Toward a Feminist Theory of Freedom 199 Changing Contexts: The Contribution of Foucault 206 The Politics of Freedom 217 Changing Contexts: The Role of Equality 222 Constructing Feminist Freedom 233 Notes 239 Name Index 279 Subject Index 285