Postmodern feminism is an approach to feminist theory that incorporates postmodern and post-structuralist theory, and thus sees itself as moving beyond the modernist polarities of liberal feminism and radical feminism.
The Penguin Reference Dictionary of Literary Terms & Literary Theory defines post-modernism, feminism, and post-structuralism, but not postmodern feminism. The definition provided for post-modernism is, “A general (and sometimes controversial) term used to refer to changes, developments, and tendencies which have taken place (and are taking place) in literature, art, music, architecture, philosophy, etc. since the 1940’s or 1950’s.” It goes on to say that Marxist, feminist, and psychoanalytic criticism are all aspects of post-modernism since the 1970’s; and concludes that “When something else develops from it instead of it, it will, perhaps be easier to identify, describe, and classify.”
Feminism has been seen by some as having a special affinity for the postmodern through a shared interest in (the theoretical implications of) social practices and multiple voices.
Read more about Postmodern Feminism: Criticism
Famous quotes containing the words postmodern and/or feminism:
“Modern children were considerably less innocent than parents and the larger society supposed, and postmodern children are less competent than their parents and the society as a whole would like to believe. . . . The perception of childhood competence has shifted much of the responsibility for child protection and security from parents and society to children themselves.”
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“One of the reasons for the failure of feminism to dislodge deeply held perceptions of male and female behaviour was its insistence that women were victims, and men powerful patriarchs, which made a travesty of ordinary people’s experience of the mutual interdependence of men and women.”
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