Overview

Feminists speak about important political issues because the lives of women are complex. Recognising how power works and in whose favour underlies many of these discussions. In this compelling and clear account of political structures, Betty McLellan asks the important questions. What is truth and how do we understand it, especially when some say, “That’s not my truth.” Are there competing truths? Modern and postmodern approaches to democracy impinge on issues of power and truth, especially with increasingly individualistic as opposed to collective approaches to politics. Populism has been used by politicians to shore up votes and sway entire sections of the voting public while identity politics has fractured that same voting public. Is democracy dead or are there ways of fruitfully salvaging democracy. Could feminism be the answer?

Full Product Details

Author:   Betty McLellan
Publisher:   Spinifex Press
Imprint:   Spinifex Press
Dimensions:   Width: 15.20cm , Height: 1.00cm , Length: 22.80cm
Weight:   0.280kg
ISBN:  

9781922964168

ISBN 10:   1922964166
Pages:   216
Publication Date:   08 October 2024
Audience:   General/trade ,  General
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In Print  
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Table of Contents

Table of Contents Acknowledgements Introduction Truth Democracy Feminism Liberal feminism Radical feminism Chapter 1: Feminist Focus on Truth and Truth-telling Power Sexual Exploitation Pornography Prostitution Sexual assault Surrogacy Domestic Violence Discrimination on the Basis of Sex Language Naming Silencing Obscurantism Attempted Erasure of Women Chapter 2: Speaking Truth to Power A Note about Defamation Chapter 3: Lies, Damned Lies and the Death of Democracy Characteristics of a Democracy Free and fair elections Power belongs to all adult citizens through their freely elected representatives Majority rules Individual rights and responsibilities Freedom of the press Independent judiciary and acceptance of the rule of law Threats to Democracy Tribalism Abuse of democratic principles Ingrained inequality Political extremism Lies and disinformation How Has It Come to This? Neoliberalism Postmodernism Liberalism Libertarianism Chapter 4: Creative Ways of Avoiding the Truth Gradualism Aged care Indigenous wellbeing Women’s safety Equalism Whataboutism Waititoutism Hideandseekism Chapter 5: Individualism, Populism and Identity Politics Liberalism – Earlier Times Liberalism Today Liberalism’s Excesses Speech Greed Exploitation of the less powerful Wreaking havoc on the planet Wanton destruction of historical sites Sexual exploitation of women Violence Sexual violence Violence in the community Violence in relationships Populism Populism as a response to powerlessness Populism as a response to contempt Populism as a response to humiliation Identity Politics Chapter 6: Leading the Way Uncovering Root Causes Changing Narratives Action Across All Areas Moving Forward Together A Glimpse Into A Future That Has Already Begun Transgender truth and lies Sex-based crimes against women Bibliography Index

Reviews

Betty McLellan’s analysis and arguments are fundamentally about truth, its importance for a functioning democracy and radical feminists’ insistence on telling it. —Kara Dansky, US lawyer and author of The Reckoning: How Democrats and the Left Betrayed Women and Girls.

Author Information

Betty McLellan is a feminist ethicist and psychotherapist with over 20 years experience, and is the author of bestselling feminist self-help book Help! I'm Living with a Man Boy, which has been translated into 16 languages. She is also the author of Overcoming Anxiety, Beyond Psychoppression, Ann Hannah: My (Un)Remarkable Grandmother, and Unspeakable: A Feminist Ethic of Speech. With a focus on both the personal and political, Betty successfully combines her work as a psychotherapist with a broader emphasis on feminist ethical analysis and activism. She lives in Townsville, North Queensland.

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