Gender and class in Britain and France

This article examines the treatment of women's oppression in feminist theory, focusing on the engagement of second wave feminists with the concept of class and its relation to gender. This examination is carried out with reference to British and French feminisms, identifying the main trends and shifts that have developed over the last 35 years and noting that while these are undoubtedly influenced by a particular national context they are also shaped by increasing European integration and social, political and cultural exchanges at a global level. The authors find evidence of a number of similarities in the questions that feminist theorists have asked in Britain and France but also demonstrate that there are significant differences. They conclude that areas of convergent theoretical interests will extend along with cross-border flows of peoples and information

Transformative sensemaking: Development in Whose Image? Keyan Tomaselli and the semiotics of visual representation

The defining and distinguishing feature of homo sapiens is its ability to make sense of the world, i.e. to use its intellect to understand and change both itself and the world of which it is an integral part. It is against this backdrop that this essay reviews Tomaselli's 1996 text, Appropriating Images: The Semiotics of Visual Representation/ by summarizing his key perspectives, clarifying his major operational concepts and citing particular portions from his work in support of specific perspectives on sense-making. Subsequently, this essay employs his techniques of sense-making to interrogate the notion of "development". This exercise examines and confirms two interrelated hypotheses: first, a semiotic analysis of the privileged notion of "development" demonstrates its metaphysical/ ideological, and thus limiting, nature especially vis-a-vis the marginalized, excluded, and the collective other, the so-called Developing Countries. Second, the interrogative nature of semiotics allows for an alternative reading and application of human potential or skills in the quest of a more humane social and global order, highlighting thereby the transformative implications of a reflexive epistemology.Web of Scienc

Derecho, género e igualdad : cambios en las estructuras jurídicas androcéntricas. Vol I

Este libro es el resultado de trabajos seleccionados del I Congreso Internacional Derecho, Género e Igualdad, realizado en el año 2009 en la Universidad de Barcelona por el Grupo Antígona y el Grupo Dones i Drets

Rapports de sexe, genre et rapports sexuels

La culture française est exceptionnelle, plus exceptionnelle que les autres - comme si ce n’était pas la définition même d’une culture que d’être unique ! Les Français n’ont pas de mal à croire cette bêtise, ni à croire que le monde entier partage cette perception qui n’est que le résultat abruti d’une éducation cocardière et abrutissante. Et tout ce qui fait partie de cette culture « exceptionnelle » est à préserver jalousement du complot international visant à nous dénier notre supériorité...

Antisexisme ou antiracisme ? Un faux dilemne

"In March 2004, a law was passed in France stating that female school children who insist on wearing the islamic scarf shall be excluded from public schools. This law has created a deep divide within the feminist ranks. The political and media campaigns in favour of the bill have relied heavily on « women's rights » rhetoric. Many feminists, though troubled by the discriminatory and racist aspect of the law, are also preoccupied by the fate of the women belonging to « visible minorities ». They are faced with what they perceive as a dilemma : how to chose between fighting sexism and fighting racism ? The author analyses the hidden premises of this dilemma, and shows that they are founded both on stereotypes and on the belief that racism targets only men. Once one admits that women too are victims of racism, however, this apparent dilemma disintegrates. Rethinking the intersection between patriarchy and racism thus appears as the necessary precondition to rethinking the complex ties between the feminist struggle and the antiracist struggle.""La loi française du 15 mars 2004, qui interdit le port du foulard islamique sous peine d'exclusion des écoles publiques, a profondément divisé le mouvement féministe. La campagne politique et médiatique pour la loi s'est appuyée principalement sur des arguments relevant des « droits des femmes ». Beaucoup de féministes, bien que troublées par le côté discriminatoire et raciste de la loi, sont néanmoins préoccupées par le « sort des femmes » des populations racisées, et se trouvent face à ce qu'elles perçoivent comme un dilemme : antisexisme ou antiracisme ? L'autrice démonte les prémisses implicites de ce dilemme, et montre qu'elles reposent à la fois sur des stéréotypes et sur la croyance que le racisme n'atteint que les hommes. Or dès que l'on reconnaît que les femmes aussi sont victimes du racisme, la façon de poser les questions change de fond en comble. Repenser l'articulation entre patriarcat et système raciste est un préalable à repenser les liens complexes entre féminisme et antiracisme.