Transforming Feminist Practice

Leela Fernandes' years of teaching women studies courses atRutgers-where she has seen frustration, paralysis and depression takehold of young students grappling with the hard realities of socialactivism-led her to examine the state of contemporary feminism andsocial justice movements. The result is an accessible social critiquethat goes directly to the heart of the issues. Transforming Feminist Practice takes a hard, unrelenting look at: Social justice organizations-their need to show results (for funding),the egotism that filters in, and the replication of power bases thatwork against social justice goals Academia-its emphasis onpublishing, the pretensions and posturing that result, and the use ofwestern contexts to study non-western cultures Identity politics-that, though necessary for policy change, make it difficult to forge bridges for social justice work Fernandes'solution refocuses the struggle and opens dialogue for a new era. Shesuggests that feminists, as well as other social justice activists,find a non-institutional, personal spiritual base that will give themthe humility and strength needed for their work. Citing the activepolitical effect of spiritual leaders like Ghandi and Martin LutherKing, Jr., she challenges contemporary activists to rethink what theyneed to do personally to sustain a thoughtful, ethical base for alifelong struggle. Leela Fernandes is an AssociateProfessor of Political Science and Women's Studies at RutgersUniversity, specializing in feminist approaches to the study of classpolitics. She is the author of Producing Workers: The Politics of Gender, Class and Culture in the Calcutta Jute Mills, as well as numerous articles and book reviews. Originally from India, she has lived in the U.S. for the past twenty years.

Leela Fernandes is an Associate Professor of Political Science and Women's Studies at Rutgers University.