Postmodern Encounter Series - Lacan and Postfeminism

Author: [British] Elizabeth Wright / Wang Wenhua
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-03-14
Features: What is a woman? This question will never have only one answer: Woman is not a fixed reality, and a woman's body is a place where she constantly pursues possibilities. To "become a woman" does not mean the opposition between biological sex and gender, but rather lies in the way women utilize their freedom. Lacan's feminist thought is the peak of feminist ideology, but it is also the end of feminism. Where is feminism heading? Currently, it seems to remain a mystery. From another perspective, Lacan's views are entirely based on the patriarchal perspective of society and culture. Therefore, all crises are actually the crises of patriarchal society, culture, and history. Jacques Lacan, known as the "French Freud," is a key figure in postmodern psychoanalysis. Critical reviews of him are highly divided, with some fiercely attacking him and others praising him immensely, calling him the most original psychoanalytic theorist after Freud. "Post-feminism" is also a highly controversial term. Its meaning can either refer to a backlash by mass media against the traditional feminist struggle for gender equality or refer to a completely different kind of feminism, where feminism makes a significant positioning for itself in response to persistent patriarchy and the tendency for women to be marginalized. Both Lacan and post-feminism are often misunderstood, but what other commonalities do they share beyond this? The central issue of this question is the "identity" issue. Lacan strongly opposes the view that gender identity is determined by biological determinism, arguing that gender identity has a "transactional" nature and is completely unaffected by biological nature. Therefore, the key lies in how feminism can make full use of affirmative identity. On this issue, Lacan is a crucial figure because he not only establishes an impeccable position for women but also, while critiquing affirmative gender identity, does not completely eliminate or deconstruct affirmative gender identity itself. The authors of this book, Elizabeth Wright, hope to clearly elaborate on this process under the guidance of Lacan's thought.