From: ccaruso-AT-sas.upenn.edu (Christopher G Caruso)
Subject: Re: Re: Political Woman Daily Hotline #1 (fwd)
Date: Fri, 7 Apr 1995 09:48:19 -0400 (EDT)



Bryan Ray Fruth wrote:
> 
> In response to Chris C., et.al.:
> I find it very interesting that people are so quick to criticize others for 
> attempting to have intellectual conversations about feminist theory on a 
> feminist THEORY mailing list. In fact, so few bother to add to the list 
> unless it is to offer a criticism of the fact that people use this list 
> as a forum for discussing, debating, and sharing ideas.  There is nothing 
> wrong with academic rigour and the refinement of theory 
> -- what others might call 'hyper-intellectualism.'  (And why is it that so 
> few criticise men who theorize?  I doubt that Deleuze is still rioting 
> in the streets or that so many others ever did!)  I personally think 
> that academic gender studies is VERY important!  Moreover, many feminists 
> in academe are not forgetting about the 'real work' of feminism.  
> The Congressional Contract on America has been a big rallying point 
> for students at Bowling Green, and the Women's Studies dept. was deeply 
> involved.  There have been marches against the local police dept. 
> for the repeated mishandling of rape cases as well (we scared the hell 
> out of those bastards too =} ).  In '93 the local women's organization 
> took busloads of people to the Les/Bi/Gay March on Washington.  
> Since '92, the 'clothes line' memorial project for battered 
> women and children has been to campus twice.  They also invite a steady 
> stream of speakers -- from Ward Churchill (a brillant 
> NativeAmerican theorist and committed activist) to Annie Sprinkle (post-
> porn performance artist).  This is truly just a sampling... For a SMALL 
> town, there is quite a bit of activism that is BALANCED with an intellectually
> challenging and excitingprogram in Women's Studies.  
> What I have grown tired of is the attack on intellectual feminists!  
> Maybe you're really arguing that the realm of 'high thought' is suppossed to 
> remain a man's domain....
> 
> In short, I wouldn't conclude so quickly that those who subscibe to a list 
> such as this are not politcally committed/active or that all theory is 
> politically invaluable, or that a group of people should not want to 
> discuss the ideas of Kristeva or Irigaray as they would Lacan or Plato.
> ______________________________________________________________________________
> Bryan Fruth      	                           Email:bfruth-AT-bgnet.bgsu.edu 
> American Culture Studies                          
> Bowling Green State University                    
> Bowling Green  OH   43402
> ______________________________________________________________________________
> 
> 

I feel a bit misunderstood.  I was not criticizing academic/intellectual 
feminism.  It is certainly important.  I was criticizing the hostility 
displayed to the mention of women actually organizing (i.e. this being 
called "Pointless Feminism").

As for your remark "maybe you are really arguing that the realm of 'high 
thought' is supposed to remain a man's domain," I would ask that you 
refrain from blatant 'straw person' arguments and not put words in my mouth.

Thanks,

Chris Caruso
ccaruso-AT-sas.upenn.edu
Philadelphia, PA  USA


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