Kantianism, Liberalism, and Feminism Resisting Oppression

What does the philosophy of a bunch of dead white men have to tell us about oppression? Rather a lot, Hay argues.

This is a book about the harms of oppression, and about addressing these harms using the resources of liberalism and Kantianism. Its central thesis is that people who are oppressed are bound by the duty of self-respect to resist their own oppression.

Hay defends certain core ideals of the liberal tradition - specifically, the fundamental importance of autonomy and rationality, the intrinsic and inalienable dignity of the individual, and the duty of self-respect - making the case that these ideals are pivotal in both understanding and counteracting oppression. She argues that if we take these ideals seriously then it follows that people who are oppressed have an obligation to themselves to resist their own oppression.

Carol Hay is Assistant Professor of Philosophy at University of Massachusetts Lowell, USA. Her work focuses primarily on issues in analytic feminism, liberal social and political philosophy, and Kantian ethics. 

Preface
Acknowlegements
1. Liberalism and Oppression
2. A Feminist Defence of Kant
3. The Obligation to Resist Sexual Harassment
4. The Obligation to Resist Oppression
5. Respect-Worthiness and Dignity
Bibliography/Further Reading
Index