About the Book
Patriarchal institutions govern all aspects of women’s lives: their minds, their bodies, and their souls. Additionally, they govern the ways in which women are perceived by others and the ways in which women perceive themselves. (Re) Interpretations: The Shapes of Justice in Women’s Experience, is a collection of essays on language, religion, war, sex trafficking, and medicine—the patriarchal structures that form the basis of western society and, thus, are in many ways inherently unjust. The essays illustrate the multitude of ways that women have found to work within and without these structures to create justice. Traditional theories of justice cast it as a cardinal virtue, unbiased and impartial. The essays in this book, however, remove justice from the abstract and return it to the specific: most of the essays use personal narratives to highlight the connections all people share. The women discussed here are challenging the authority of existing patriarchal narratives by telling their versions, and, thus, calling attention to and challenging their own political and social realities. Reflecting a focus on global connectedness and interdisciplinarity, the writers of these essays aim not only to raise questions, but also to show ways in which women are creating new pathways for themselves. Only by exploring solutions will women reclaim justice. From L.A. to Zimbwabe, women have stories to tell about their experiences of justice in the inherently patriarchal institutions of Language, Religion, War, Sex Trafficking, and Medicine. This relevant and thought-provoking collection captures the trials that women across the world face and the hope they create through their courageous actions. Through both personal narrative and factual overview, these essays emphasize that as people committed to justice, women must not simply raise the questions, but they must also explore solutions in order to reclaim justice for themselves, their daughters, their sisters, and their mothers.Contributors: Yifat Bitton, Stephany Ryan Cate, Jo Scott-Coe, Susan Dewey, Carmela Epright, Carmen Faymonville, Adam Gaynor, Pauline Greenhill, Denise Handlarski, Alison Jobe, Marc J.W. de Jong, Jodie M. Lawston, Jody Lisberger, Kristy Maher, Susan Maloney, Mickias Musiyiwa, Ruben Murillo, Annemarie Profanter, Natalie Wilson, and J. Carter Wood.
About the Author :
Lisa Dresdner and Laurel S. Peterson are professors of English at Norwalk Community College. They are co-founders of the Fairfield County Women's Center at NCC and active in the women's studies program.
Review :
"Showing the usefulness and power of storytelling to change women's lives . . . this book is a welcome contribution to a new type of feminist scholarship that engages insightfully with the questions and concerns rooted on women's practices of change."—María Pilar Aquino, Professor of Theology and Religious Studies, University of San Diego, and 2008-09 Visiting Professor of Theology, Harvard Divinity School"As Chair of Women's Studies, many anthologies come across my desk for review …. Only one or two include the more contemporary legal issues related to war and sex trafficking. (Re) Interpretations fills this gap and the complexities of how and by whom behavior is defined are thoughtfully examined and clearly illuminated."—Nancy S. Harris, Ph.D., Department of Anthropology and Sociology and Chair, Women's Studies at Manhattanville College"…this impressive, far-reaching collection of essays illuminat[es] the gendered nature of global political institutions… The collection refreshingly presents women as empowered activists–not victims–struggling against the patriarchal systems that continue to obstruct social justice and equality: It is an important contribution to feminist jurisprudence."—Cara Tuttle Bell, J.D., Center for Women's & Gender Studies at USC Upstate
