Overview

Irene Diamond has written a passionate and provocative book that challenges the feminist movement to step beyond its preconceptions. . . . We desperately need this synthesis. -from the Foreword by Starhaw In a wide-ranging critique of Western thought and practice, ecofeminist Irene Diamond raises unsettling questions about the ethic of control that permeates how we think about fertility, sexuality, agriculture, and the environment.

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9780807067734

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Reviews

"Provocative. . . . Assumes passion and authority. -Janet Lembke, The New York Times Book Review""Irene Diamond offers her readers a provocative series of musings on a vital, but largely unexplored, concept: fertility. . . . Diamond's scope is wide-ranging, addressing reproductive technologies, agriculture, pornography, development and death, yet her work also has a highly personal quality. . . . As an intuitive foray, Fertile Ground sows many new seeds."" -Karen Litfin, The Ecologist ""Irene Diamond's Fertile Ground is a provocative book. It stirs me to vigorous assent. It also triggers wide-eyed disbelief. . . . As it prods me to explosions of disagreement, it also provokes useful thought."" -Janet Lembke, The New York Times Book Review ""One of the most provocative and original feminist books in years. . . . Diamond poses important questions and breaks ground for new thought about them."" -Pat Monaghan, Booklist"

Diamond parallels the abuse of nature and the abuse of women to challenge ecological and feminist assumptions about population control and fertility. Though not questioning the basic feminist insistence that men have long controlled women in a variety of damaging ways, Diamond (Political Science/Univ. of Oregon) does question the ways in which feminist discourse has focused on owning and controlling the body. She proposes that western feminism has developed within the masculinist ideology of power, including control of nature and the earth. Thus, much of the discourse of women's liberation reinforces the will toward technological mastery by emphasizing ownership of bodies and control of fertility. Diamond demonstrates the need for diversity, both ecologically and culturally, if we are to renew our relationship with the earth, beginning with respect for local and culturally specific connections to the environment. Relying heavily on the work of Foucault, Diamond develops the idea of the sexuated body, the body defined exclusively by sex, as the root of the western focus on owning our bodies. Although her notion of the sexuated body is appealing, Diamond never quite develops its significance for her argument. Recognizing the conflicts of living in a technologically driven society, but not recognizing the tremendous gains women have made, Diamond does convincingly argue that we need to challenge the language of power: She advocates focusing on and celebrating fertility of both women and the earth, and challenging technology that provides sex without consequences, reproduction without sex, and food without sweat. However, she doesn't follow through on the consequences of her argument or offer specific means of accomplishing this new existence. Avoiding romantic calls to return to the wilderness and arguments about women's inherent alliance with nature, Diamond directs attention to the cyclical nature of life and death, and provides a stepping stone for future ecofeminist efforts. (Kirkus Reviews)

Provocative. . . . Assumes passion and authority. -Janet Lembke, The New York Times Book Review Irene Diamond offers her readers a provocative series of musings on a vital, but largely unexplored, concept: fertility. . . . Diamond's scope is wide-ranging, addressing reproductive technologies, agriculture, pornography, development and death, yet her work also has a highly personal quality. . . . As an intuitive foray, Fertile Ground sows many new seeds. -Karen Litfin, The Ecologist <br> Irene Diamond's Fertile Ground is a provocative book. It stirs me to vigorous assent. It also triggers wide-eyed disbelief. . . . As it prods me to explosions of disagreement, it also provokes useful thought. -Janet Lembke, The New York Times Book Review <br> One of the most provocative and original feminist books in years. . . . Diamond poses important questions and breaks ground for new thought about them. -Pat Monaghan, Booklist

Provocative. . . . Assumes passion and authority. -Janet Lembke, The New York Times Book Review Irene Diamond offers her readers a provocative series of musings on a vital, but largely unexplored, concept: fertility. . . . Diamond's scope is wide-ranging, addressing reproductive technologies, agriculture, pornography, development and death, yet her work also has a highly personal quality. . . . As an intuitive foray, Fertile Ground sows many new seeds. -Karen Litfin, The Ecologist Irene Diamond's Fertile Ground is a provocative book. It stirs me to vigorous assent. It also triggers wide-eyed disbelief. . . . As it prods me to explosions of disagreement, it also provokes useful thought. -Janet Lembke, The New York Times Book Review One of the most provocative and original feminist books in years. . . . Diamond poses important questions and breaks ground for new thought about them. -Pat Monaghan, Booklist

Provocative. . . . Assumes passion and authority. -Janet Lembke, The New York Times Book Review Irene Diamond offers her readers a provocative series of musings on a vital, but largely unexplored, concept: fertility. . . . Diamond's scope is wide-ranging, addressing reproductive technologies, agriculture, pornography, development and death, yet her work also has a highly personal quality. . . . As an intuitive foray, Fertile Ground sows many new seeds. -Karen Litfin, The Ecologist <br><br> Irene Diamond's Fertile Ground is a provocative book. It stirs me to vigorous assent. It also triggers wide-eyed disbelief. . . . As it prods me to explosions of disagreement, it also provokes useful thought. -Janet Lembke, The New York Times Book Review <br><br> One of the most provocative and original feminist books in years. . . . Diamond poses important questions and breaks ground for new thought about them. -Pat Monaghan, Booklist

Author Information

Irene Diamond teaches political science and women's studies at the University of Oregon. Her previous books include Sex Roles in the State House and the coedited volumes Feminism and Foucault- Reflections on Resistance and Reweaving the World- The Emergence of Ecofeminism.

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