Theorizing Feminism: A Cross-Cultural Exploration

• Author: Chandrakala Padia

• Publisher: Rawat Publications

• Language: English

• Edition: 2011

• ISBN: 9788131604304

• Pages: 252

• Cover: Hardcover

• Package Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.7 x 0.8 inches

About the Book

This thought-provoking book explores the critical challenges posed by feminist scholars to various disciplines in the Humanities and Social Sciences, particularly focusing on their inherent androcentric biases and logocentrism. The author, Chandrakala Padia, brings attention to the vital contribution of Third World feminism in dismantling long-standing sexist assumptions and misconstrued values that have dominated academic fields.

The book critically analyzes how Third World feminism challenges the essentialist, universalist, and monolithic assumptions of Western feminist discourse. By offering a comprehensive look at feminist interventions across diverse disciplines such as philosophy, history, sociology, psychology, economics, and political science, this book becomes an essential resource for scholars, researchers, and students interested in Feminist Studies, Political Theory, Gender Studies, and other Humanities and Social Sciences.

Key Topics Covered:

• Historical Background: Development of Feminist Theory in the West

• Feminist Explorations in Philosophy and Sociology

• Unearthing Androcentrism in History

• Feminist Challenges in Psychology and Economics

• Bridging the Public-Private Gap in Political Science

• Deconstructing Western Feminist Theory: Authorizing Third World Women’s Voices

About the Author
Chandrakala Padia is a Professor of Political Science at Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi. She has previously served as the Director of the Centre for Women’s Studies and Development at BHU and as Chairperson of the UGC Standing Committee on Women’s Studies. As a prominent feminist scholar, she has received the D.P. Mukherjee Award for her contributions to feminist theory. She has been a Fulbright scholar at the University of Texas, Austin, USA, and has received fellowships from ICSSR, McMaster, and Shastri Indo-Canadian Fellowship. Her work spans a variety of cross-cultural explorations, focusing on women's studies and human rights, particularly in India and Canada. Padia has lectured extensively in Europe and North America and has authored several books and articles, including Liberty and Social Transformation: A Study in Bertrand Russell’s Political Thought.