The Future of Difference: Beyond the Toxic Entanglement of Racism, Sexism and Feminism

by Sabine Hark, Paula-Irene Villa, Sophie Lewis (Translator)

A feminist critique of racist feminisms

In recent years, opponents of “political correctness” have surged to prominence from both left and right, shaping a discourse in which perpetrators are “defiantly” imagined as Muslim refugees, i.e. outsiders/others, while victims are identified as “our women.”

This poisonous and regressive situation grounds Hark and Villa’s theorisation of contemporary regimes of power as engaged primarily in the violent production of difference. In this moment, they argue, the logic of “differentiate and rule” thoroughly permeates the social. Our entire “way of life” is premised on endless subtle hierarchical distinctions, which determine whole populations” attitudes, feelings and actions.

How can we learn to value difference when it is too often enlisted in the service of domination? Hark and Villa make a compelling case for the urgent necessity for a detoxification of feminism as a matter of urgency, and for an ethical mode of living-with the world, that is, living with alterity.

Genres: Feminism, Nonfiction, Gender, Philosophy

240 pages, Paperback

Published May 1, 2020

Reviews

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exceedingly important book, as much for its fathoms-deep dive into serious scholarship and theory as for its analysis of "The Cologne Incident". I loved reading this book. The authors have an intellectual dialogue that has a wide-ranging scope and a seriously academic bent. Grounded in the day-to-day realities of sexism, racism, and feminism, but unafraid to venture into not-so-beaten paths of theory and politics and their increasingly complex and complicated intersections. A book that is smart as hell, understanding of its limitations but quite proud of its strengths too. A welcome addition to any serious analysis of subjectivity and power.

[Dazessin · Rating 3 out of 5]

puh. irgendwie hat mir die Lektüre nicht wirklich was Neues gebracht, deswegen bin ich eher enttäuscht. Zum Teil hat es mich an "Gegen den Hass" von Carolin Emcke in "wissenschaftlich" erinnert und sonst werden auch keine wirklich neuen Gedanken entwickelt.

[Evmisosc · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ne, also es ist ein Wunder, dass ich nach dem ersten Kapitel weitergelesen habe. Ich hab echt gedacht mein Kopf explodiert vor lauter unnützer Fachbegriffe mit denen um sich geworfen wurde (und dass meiner Meinung nach ohne den Text in irgendeiner Art und Weise aufzuwerten). In den späteren Kapiteln wurde es dann etwas verständlicher. Ich habe aber nicht den Eindruck etwas neues gelernt zu haben, da der Großteil aus rhetorischen (und tatsächlichen) Fragen besteht, die nie beantwortet werden.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

🌟 4 stars🌟

Sehr augenöffnend, manchmal etwas schwaffelnd, aber insgesamt ein wichtiger read zum Thema Verflechtung zwischen Feminismus und Rassismus und wie ersteres als Vorwand für letzteres genutzt werden kann.
Die Struktur hat mich erstmal ein bisschen rausgeholt, aber nachdem ich mich dran gewöhnt und einfach durchgezogen habe, war es relativ gut zu verstehen.

[Seb Vanbesien · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book that will only become more important as the political discourse goes on over time. I love how it straddles the line between highly intelligent debate and well researched academic paper, perfectly. While it takes the Cologne incident as a jumping off point, it goes deeper than that and makes you really think about, and question behaviour and perceptions within society, media and ourselves.