323
See also: Mary Wollstonecraft 175 ■ Georg Hegel 178–85 ■
Simone de Beauvoir 276–77 ■ Hélène Cixous 322 ■ Martha Nussbaum 339B
ulgarian-born philosopher
and psychoanalyst Julia
Kristeva is often regarded
as one of the leading voices in
French feminism. Nevertheless,
the question of whether, or in what
way, Kristeva is a feminist thinker
has been subject to considerable
debate. Part of the reason for this
is that for Kristeva herself, the very
notion of feminism is problematic.
Feminism has arisen out of the
conflict women have had with
the structures that are associated
with male dominance or power.
Because of these roots, Kristeva
warns, feminism carries with it
some of the same male-centered
presuppositions that it is seeking
to question.
If the feminist movement is
to realize its goals fully, Kristeva
believes that it is essential for it to
be more self-critical. She warns
that by seeking to fight what she
calls the “power principle” of a
male-dominated world, feminism
is at risk of adopting yet another
form of this principle. Kristeva is
convinced that for any movementto be successful in achieving true
emancipation, it must constantly
question its relationship to power
and established social systems—
and, if necessary “renounce belief
in its own identity.” If the feminist
movement fails to take these steps,
Kristeva fears that it is in serious
danger of developing into little
more than an additional strand
in the ongoing game of power. ■CONTEMPORARY PHILOSOPHY
IN CONTEXT
BRANCH
Political philosophy
APPROACH
Feminism
BEFORE
1792 Mary Wollstonecraft’s
A Vindication of the Rights
of Woman initiates serious
debate about the nature of the
roles women are conditioned
to play in society.
1807 Georg Hegel explores
the dialectic between
“master” and “slave” in
Phenomenology of Spirit.
1949 Simone de Beauvoir’s
The Second Sex is published,
rapidly becoming a key text in
the French feminist movement.
AFTER
1999 In their book Fashionable
Nonsense, physics professors
Alan Sokal and Jean Bricmont
criticize Kristeva’s misuse
of scientific language.
WHO PLAYS GOD
IN PRESENT-DAY
FEMINISM?
JULIA KRISTEVA (1941– )
Margaret Thatcher, like many
women who have achieved positions
of great power, modified her public
image to incorporate classic male
concepts of strength and authority.