The Second Wave: A Reader in Feminist Theory

by Linda J. Nicholson (Editor)

The Second Wave collects many of the major essays of feminist theory of the past forty years, essays by the figures who have made key contributions to feminist theory during this period and have generated extensive discussion. Organized historically, these essays provide a sense of the major turning points in feminist theory.

Contributors include: Norma Alarcon, Linda Alcoff, Michele Barrett, Elsa Barkley Brown, Judith Butler, Nancy Chodorow, Patricia Hill Collins, Simone de Beauvoir, Shulamith Firestone, Nancy Fraser, Carol Gilligan, Heidi Hartmann, Nancy C. M. Hartsock, Luce Irigaray, Catharine MacKinnon, Uma Narayan, Linda Nicholson, Ellen Rooney, Gayle Rubin, Gayatri Spivak, Wendy W. Williams and Monique Wittig.

Genres: Feminism, Nonfiction, Womens Studies, Academic, Philosophy, Theory, Feminist Theory

415 pages, Paperback

First published February 21, 1997

About the author

Linda J. Nicholson was Professor in the Department of Educational Administration and Policy Studies, and Women's Studies at the State University of New York, Albany. She is the author of Gender and History (1986), editor of Feminism/Postmodernism (Routledge, 1990) and the co- editor with Steven Seidman of Social Postmodernism. She is editor of Routledge's Thinking Gender series.

Reviews

[Chan Fry · Rating 3 out of 5]

In spite of the slew of 10-dollar words (like “detumescence”, “nonessentialized”, and “vinculum”), often mashed into 100-word sentences, I was able to slog my way through this highly academic and dense collection of 23 essays. A few were more poignant, more lay-accessible, than others.

Whether it’s a good representation of second-wave feminist writing, I don’t know; during those years I was either a child or securely tucked away in the right-wing cult that raised me. But I do think I learned some things from this book, or at least acquired some more solid foundations for things I already knew.

My wish (if anyone wants to make recommendations) is for an in-between book on feminism. My experience so far has either been this (solidly academic, but also well-researched) or its opposite (anecdotal, lightweight pieces that might be fun to write but don’t bear much weight). Surely there is a market for a feminism book that’s both well-referenced and thoughtful, yet easily readable by a non-professor.

(I have published a longer review on my website.)

[Meredith · Rating 4 out of 5]

a great introduction to feminist theory

[sologdin · Rating 3 out of 5]

definitely great for a seminar on the second wave, which means inter alia that one might, as usual, fake one's way through a cocktail party colloquy.

[Sophie Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great for learning about second wave feminism

[Devan · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is an amazing foundation for second wave feminist theories. it basically covers everything you need to know.

[Kristi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this with a lot of supplementary essays, so I'm not sure how comprehensive it would be on its own.

[Lauren Sailor · Rating 5 out of 5]

bitchin' essay collection

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Obviously needs to be complimented with more recent theory (very white).

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well I read MOST of the essays in this book, but I think it qualifies as read, as far as textbooks go.

[Tate · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a huge fan of 2nd wavers.