Reconstructing Womanhood, Reconstructing Feminism

This work examines concepts of womanhood and feminism within the context of "race" and ethnicity, and highlights the ways in which constructions of womanhood have traditionally excluded black women's experience. It covers social and cultural issues surrounding the position of black women.
By examining concepts of womanhood and feminism within the context of "race" and ethnicity, this work challenges contemporary feminist theory, highlighting the ways in which constructions of womanhood have traditionally excluded black women's experience and proposing a rconsideration of terms such as "feminist". Most of the contributors are women living in Britain whose research subjects and methods are shaped by the specifics of the black British experience and context. Representing a variety of backgrounds including sociology, literary criticism, history and cultural theory, the contributors make new information accessible, add fresh nuances to well-explored aresa, re-examine old ideologies and uncover previously concealed ones. This anthology brings together various ideas about "difference" and identity. It covers social and cultural issues ranging from the position of black women in the church to representation in films. Some of the chapters look at the writings of one novelist; others have a wider scope and tackle broad subjects such as feminism and African Women.