FEMINIST RELATIONS WITH POSTMODERNISM - REFLECTIONS ON THE POSITIVE ASPECTS OF INVOLVEMENT

Within the different ideas that have been prominent within feminism ov er the last decade, postmodernism has remained the most contentious. C oncerns explored in this paper include postmodernism's heritage in the comfort of male academia, which for some leaves postmodernism incapab le of reflecting, understanding, or helping the problems faced by wome n. It also appears to put into question political practices and unders tandings which can help women. While these concerns are serious and in some cases valid, it is argued that the forms postmodernism has taken within feminism, mean that it can be a vital-if imperfect-force. Part ly, this is because postmodernism has a heritage within feminism which is conceptually independent of the famous male writers who are public ly associated with it. In addition, the forms of postmodernism engaged in by feminists ran allow for a move towards the everyday lives of ma ny women, therefore it need not be a move away.