Description: Heterodox Feminism: New Debates at the Frontier of Culture is a fearless and timely intervention into the most urgent debates shaping feminism today. Bringing together internationally renowned scholars, journalists, clinicians, and activists, this anthology challenges the orthodoxies that now dominate feminist institutions and public discourse. From the erosion of sex-based rights to the medicalization of gender distress, from free speech and cancellation to motherhood, marriage, and women's safety, this book confronts questions many are discouraged from asking--and refuses easy answers.
Provocative, pluralistic, and intellectually rigorous, Heterodox Feminism will appeal to readers across the political spectrum who value free inquiry, grounding in material reality, and feminism without dogma. It offers a powerful re-centering of women as a sex class while acknowledging deep internal disagreement among even the most prominent heterodox feminist voices. In an era of polarization and enforced consensus, this book invites readers to think critically, disagree openly, and reimagine feminism for a changing world.Brief description:
Petra Bueskens is an Honorary Fellow in the School of Historical and Philosophical Studies
at The University of Melbourne, a psychotherapist in private practice, and a small farmer.
She is the author of Modern Motherhood and Women's Dual Identities and several
anthologies. She is current president of Maternal Scholars Australia and a member of Therapy
First. She lives on a small holding in regional Victoria with her children, dogs, cat, chickens, and two sheep.
Review Quotes: "It's a thrill--and a relief--to see this book in the world. For too long, liberal minded thinkers and scholars--feminists or not--have held their tongues about obvious truths for fear of professional recrimination or social exile in the name of politically expedient untruths. But the dam is bound to burst and the essays in Heterodox Feminism represent the first trickles of hope. Dogmatists, authoritarians, and puritanical zombies, your days are numbered!"--Meghan Daum, author of The Problem With Everything
"This collection is what feminism should be: thoughtful, contentious, righteous, and brave. The authors are a long drink of water in a desert of woke. Give yourself permission to think once again: read this book." --Derrick Jensen, author of A Language Older Than Words "In the past few decades, the meaning of 'feminism' within academia and as preached by established women's groups has changed beyond all recognition . . . [T]his anthology will play an important part in breaking the silence and opening up a long-overdue debate." --Helen Joyce, bestselling author of Trans: When Ideology Meets Reality "This book heralds a new wave of feminist pluralism and debate. It promises to provoke much disagreement and discussion, which is just what feminism needs." --Alice Sullivan, Professor of Sociology at University College London and co-editor of Sex and Gender "To serve women's interests, a renewed feminism will have to abandon latter-day imposters and begin again to identify and fight for the needs and interests of women as women. This collection's courageous thinkers--some of them true heroines of our time--should challenge all who embrace the feminist label (and even those who don't) to think better about the real threats to women in our increasingly post-liberal age." --Erika Bachiochi, author of The Rights of Women and founder of the Wollstonecraft Project "In this era of intense political polarisation and enforced tribal loyalties, it's refreshing to hear some brave souls thinking for themselves. Agree or disagree with them (and they frequently disagree with each other): think for yourself too." --Alan Sokal, co-author of Intellectual Imposters: Postmodern Philosophers' Abuse of Science