Feminist Studies: A Guide to Intersectional Theory, Methodology and Writing (Routledge Advances in Feminist Studies and Intersectionality) Review

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Feminist Studies: A Guide to Intersectional Theory, Methodology and Writing (Routledge Advances in Feminist Studies and Intersectionality) ReviewThat is how Nina Lykke describes and positions herself: A feminist guide. By doing this, she avoids the dilemma of choosing between the god-trick or postmodern relativist positions. She is neither. She tackles further with her positioning so you know that it is a major concern for her while writing feminist texts. I loved the idea of having an imaginary interview with herself at the beginning of the book, exposing the author's position further and arguing that she is a feminist studies scholar and this is actually possible in today's world. It gives me hope in my own positioning(s) for the future because I too am a feminist studies scholar with a BA in English Literature and MA & PhD & Post-Doc in Women & Gender Studies Departments. Feminist Studies have been my breathing and academically breeding zone.

The news regarding the good old relationship between gender and sex is that the separation between these two is really over. This is one important argument to take with you. Sex and gender are intertwined or "inextricably woven together" (25) as expressed in the book so separate definitions are bound to be incomplete and they feed binaries. The cluster of prefixes (multi-, inter-, trans- and so on) in feminist studies are not there to confuse you. Lykke distinguishes them carefully but clarifies them too. Speaking of clarification, I need to underline that the glossary at the end of the book is a gem. I wish more of the academic and theoretical texts on the market had such a glossary! Maybe it should become a required criterion. If you think I am exaggerating, here is my imaginary experiment. Assign the book to your students for one term without the glossary and next term with its glossary, and then check the differences in class discussions or simply in feedback forms regarding the reading material. It makes a difference if you have definitions for 45 terms and phrases used in the book.
Another tricky binary that Lykke rejects is the one between ontology and epistemology. Building on Barad's theory which refuses the separation and suggests creative terms such as episteme-onto-logy or onto-epistem-ology, Lykke contributes to dismantling this binary when it comes to feminist philosophy. Consequently, her approach suggests a transformation of science and knowledge production and revises Harding's three strands of epistemology, which Lykke adds a 4th strand, that is, feminist postconstructionism.
Lykke introduces Feminist Studies (F.S.) as both an established and non-traditional discipline which she refers to as "postdisciplinary discipline" as opposed to "successor discipline" in the sense that Griffin and Hanmer used. Although she makes it very clear that the "post" in her discussion does not mean "after" it can still be a bit confusing due to one's own deeply-wired perceptions of the word "post," at least for me. It is almost like assigning a new meaning to the word "red"! I just cannot help it. "Post" in her context is in reference to a "double stance" and once you get the hang of it (and Lykke provides a neatly expressed list for it, see pages 18-19) then you can proceed into a more comfortable reading.
I do have some sections which I favor to the others such as "theorizing intersectionalities" and "shifting boundaries between academic and creative writing practices" simply due to personal interest. For the first one, "theorizing intersectionalities" I appreciate the fact that Lykke draws attention to the fact that intersectionality has a long history and not just a recent "fad" in F.S. referring to feminists such as Sojourner Truth and Alexandra Kollontai. Distinguishing between the three clusters of intersectionality (explicit, implicit and under other names) is very important in order to show the "diversity and richness of feminist reflections on intersectionalities" (68).
In addition to Lykke's own conversation with herself, I felt that the book itself can be read as conversation with many other feminist scholars such as Butler, Haraway, Braidotti, Barad, and Mohanty among many others. In this sense, reading this book will take the reader to an enlightening spatial and temporal tour (nicely fitting Lykke's position of a guide) in the universe of feminist theories. Thus, yes, it can be an introductory text for the new comers, but it is also a review and mental workout for the ones who are familiar with all these prominent names. Speaking for myself only, again, I never hide the fact that my memory needs to be refreshed and challenged on regular basis when it comes to contemporary feminist theories. There are way too many terms and texts on the market which scholars refer to, criticize, and (even worse!) redefine constantly. This is why we need books like Nina Lykke's. After your reading is done, your memory is not only refreshed but also it enjoys new contributions to and novel dimensions of thinking as a feminist.
Feminist Studies is a welcoming book in the sense that its readers can be from a wide range of places. However, I would claim that the book is written for the trinity of `others' (175), that is, Woman, Native, and Nature. As a reviewer and reader, I am more than happy to be included in Lykke's trinity and share my enthusiasm about the book with the potential readers.

Ozlem Ezer, PhD
Middle East Technical University
Northern Cyprus Campus
Guzelyurt, KKTC,
Mersin 10, Turkey
Feminist Studies: A Guide to Intersectional Theory, Methodology and Writing (Routledge Advances in Feminist Studies and Intersectionality) OverviewIn this book, feminist scholar Nina Lykke highlights current issues in feminist theory, epistemology and methodology. Combining introductory overviews with cutting-edge reflections, Lykke focuses on analytical approaches to gendered power differentials intersecting with other processes of social in/exclusion based on race, class, and sexuality. Lykke confronts and contrasts classical stances in feminist epistemology with poststructuralist and postconstructionist feminisms, and also brings bodily materiality into dialogue with theories of the performativity of gender and sex. This thorough and needed analysis of the state of Feminist Studies will be a welcome addition to scholars and students in Gender and Women's Studies and Sociology.

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