Feminist Morality: Transforming Culture, Society, and PoliticsHow is feminism changing the way women and men think, feel, and act? Virginia Held explores how feminist theory is changing contemporary views of moral choice. She proposes a comprehensive philosophy of feminist ethics, arguing persuasively for reconceptualizations of the self; of relations between the self and others; and of images of birth and death, nurturing and violence. Held shows how social, political, and cultural institutions have traditionally been founded upon masculine ideals of morality. She then identifies a distinct feminist morality that moves beyond culturally embedded notions about motherhood and female emotionality. Examining the effects of this alternative moral and ethical system on changing social values, Held discusses its far-reaching implications for altering standards of freedom, democracy, equality, and personal development. Ultimately, she concludes, the culture of feminism could provide a fresh perspective on—even solutions to—contemporary social problems. Feminist Morality makes a vital contribution to the ongoing debate in feminist theory on the importance of motherhood. For philosophers and other readers outside feminist theory, it offers a feminist moral and social critique in clear and accessible terms. |
Contents
The Feminist Transformation of Consciousness and Culture | xi |
Feminist Moral Inquiry Method and Prospects | 20 |
Transformations of Moral Concepts | 41 |
Moral Theory from a Feminist Perspective | 62 |
Shaping Feminist Culture | 89 |
Preconceptions of Birth and Death | 110 |
Gender and Violence | 136 |
Feminist Interpretations of Liberty and Equality | 158 |
Democracy and the Critique of Individualism | 172 |
Noncontractual Society The Postpatriarchal Family as Model | 190 |
The Feminist Future | 213 |
Notes | 229 |
Selected Bibliography | 255 |
Credits | 271 |
Index | 273 |
Other editions - View all
Feminist Morality: Transforming Culture, Society, and Politics Virginia Held No preview available - 1993 |
Feminist Morality: Transforming Culture, Society, and Politics Virginia Held No preview available - 1993 |
Feminist Morality: Transforming Culture, Society, and Politics Virginia Held No preview available - 1993 |
Common terms and phrases
abstract activity actual adequate Annette Baier argues barracks community biological C. B. Macpherson Cambridge Carol Gilligan childbirth claims conceptions concern conflict consciousness consider context contractual critical culture death democracy democratic discussion distinctively human economic emotion ence equality evaluation experience of women expression feelings female femi Feminism feminist approach feminist ethic feminist moral theory Feminist Theory gender give birth Hartsock images imagination individual Jaggar justice liberal lives Macpherson male dominance Marxist masculine mass media ment moral experience moral problems mothering person natural nist nonviolence norms oppression parents particular particular judgments patriarchy peace person and child perspective philosophers point of view political postmodern principles production questions rational rational choice theory reality reason recognize relation between mothering relationships reproduction Ruddick Sara Ruddick sexual share society suggest theorists Theory of Justice thought tions transformations understand University Press violence woman York