What Are We Fighting For?

by Joanna Russ and Noelle Crooks

A study of the future of feminism calls for a return to the radical roots of feminism's direct political struggle during the 1960s and early 1970s and a move away from the de-politicized focus on... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312151985
• ISBN13: 9780312151980
• Release Date: March 1998
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press
• Length: 476 Pages
• Weight: 1.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.6" x 5.8" x 8.6"

Customer Reviews

One of the most important books on feminism ever written!

This is a must read for anyone interested in feminism and the prospect for social change and women's liberation. Joanna Russ is more than thorough in her analysis of the current wave of reactionary feminism. She asserts that those who are active in this "wave" are primarily interested in personal beliefs, opinions and relationships instead of political analysis and action. She clearly articulates how the current mass reaction in the feminist movement has essentially reduced feminism into lifestyle and personal aggrandizement devoid of political and economic analysis, agenda and impact. Russ'work illustrates that what has been lost is the understanding that feminism is an impetus to the radical reordering of society through socially conscious political struggle. She challenges those interested in women's rights to examine (or reexamine) and analyze the roots of women's oppression with a socially conscious perspective and all those claiming to be feminists to develop a political agenda based on the reality of the relationship of forces and to immediately end their support of patriarchy.If nothing else, the bibliography of this book is a shining model for every feminist's bookshelf.

Excellent survey of these connected issues

If you are looking for an introduction to the feminist theory because you didn't get any in high school (or college, for that matter) this book is a great place to start. This book is really, really readable. I normally don't call such academically founded texts page turners, but this one is. I could not put it down. Russ makes several vital connections between the problems of sex, race, class and sexual orientation, and shows you how she arrives at her conclusions regarding these connections. I had fun reading the book, but I was shocked at my personal ignorance on so many of the topics. It was certainly eye opening. Kudos to the author.I would also add that you should make sure to read all the endnotes; they're every bit as good as the text itself.

Inspiring and well-researched

Having read other works my Ms. Russ, I was excited to read her new book, What are We Fighting For? As a feminist of the 90's, I have been frusterated by the lack of writings and clarity of direction for the young feminist of today. Russ does a good job explaining the roots of the movement from the 60's and 70's and those influential people who's writings defined these times. I do wish her bibliography had included current works of the 90's or references to current forms of feminism. Overall this is an inspiring and well-researched work that elequently brings many important issues to the forefront.

Not self-indulgent, but joyous and energetic. Only connect.

I find it enormously refreshing to read good economic analysis of feminist issues by a "noneconomist". Her excursions are not idle pleasure trips: rather, they connect vitally important material to the contiguous terrain. And making connections is a large part of what feminism is about. As is not insisting on formats or subjects which happen to be the academic fashion. Academic fashion, as Russ has noted copiously here and in _How to Suppress Women's Writing_, has not been particularly advantageous for women.