Marching Dykes, Liberated Sluts, and Concerned Mothers: Women Transforming Public Space

by Elizabeth Currans

From the Women in Black vigils and Dyke marches to the Million Mom March, women have seized a dynamic role in early twenty-first century protest. The varied demonstrations--whether about gender, sexuality, war, or other issues--share significant characteristics as space-claiming performances in and of themselves beyond their place in any broader movement. Elizabeth Currans blends feminist, queer, and critical race theory with performance studies, political theory, and geography to explore the outcomes and cultural relevance of public protest. Drawing on observation, interviews, and archival and published sources, Currans shows why and how women utilize public protest as a method of participating in contemporary political and cultural dialogues. She also examines how groups treat public space as an important resource and explains the tactics different women protesters use to claim, transform, and hold it. The result is a passionate and pertinent argument that women-organized demonstrations can offer scholars a path to study the relationship of gender and public space in today's political culture.

Genres: Feminism, Politics, Academic, Nonfiction

248 pages, Hardcover

Published October 27, 2017

Reviews

[Maddie]

Interesting material but the writing style did not hold my attention. After renewing multiple times from the library I had to turn it in unfinished.

[Indumugi C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well researched and a refreshing topic to read on. It blends feminist, queer, and critical race theories with how they use public spaces to forward their ideas. Our use of public space by for example, organizing a protest, depends on who we are and how others perceive us. This is a book that tells you how feminists occupying public spaces, has empowered them and transformed public spaces.
There are also intriguing discussions on making protests more inclusive to Blacks, Queer and transgender persons, and the efforts to understand different views of what feminism means for different age-groups.

[Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well researched, brilliantly written, and interesting. This examination of the power of women in the modern protest is anything but dry and boring. An important piece of literature in today's world, and one that all feminists should read.

[April Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elizabeth Currans has turned a taboo subject into a well-written journey through the lives of women. Marching Dykes, Liberated Sluts, and Concerned Mothers is a guide to understanding women and the relationship they have with protesting and the spaces in which they fight for their rights. This is an excellent book for the teenager and the college student as well as the man or woman looking to understand women - organized marches protest and the public spaces in which they hold these fights in today's political-cultural. I high ly recommend for the classroom and for everyday reading.