Challenging Liberalism

Contents

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Part I A Feminist Critique of Liberalism

1. Individualism, Oppression, and Liberal Rights Theory

2. Abstract Ideals and Social Inequality: Dworkin’s Equality of Resources

3. Rawlsian Abstraction and the Social Position of Women

Part II Abstraction, Ideals, and Feminist Methodologies

4. Idealization, Abstraction, and the Use of Ideals in Feminist Critique

5. Feminism as an Alternative Methodology

Part III Feminist Postmodernism: An Alternative to Liberalism?

6. Politicized Identity, Women’s Experience, and the Law

7. Speech, Authority, and Social Context

Conclusion: Toward a Feminist Approach to Political Theorizing

Notes

Bibliography

Index

“Feminists often criticize liberalism as too abstract and individualistic. Lisa Schwartzman argues, in her balanced evaluation, that the real problems are instead that liberalism has been covertly and concretely patriarchal and ignored the power structures of sexual politics. Seeking to separate what is valuable in liberalism from what is downright oppressive, she examines leading contemporary texts (Rawls, Dworkin) and their feminist critics (Jaggar) and defenders (O’Neill, Nussbaum), differentiating her critique also from postmodernists (Brown, Butler). Her original approach often evokes the response, ‘Of course!’ This is a stimulating text for a seminar or advanced undergraduate course. It deserves to be read by feminist philosophers and by scholars in women’s studies, political science, law, and sociology.”

—Claudia F. Card, University of Wisconsin