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9.13: Discussion Questions

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    1. Both "equality politics" (inclusion into existing structures) and "difference politics" (celebrating feminine traits) have been critiqued for failing to dismantle patriarchal structures. In what ways do these two approaches inadvertently "reinscribe" or "comfort" traditional gender hierarchies rather than achieving true democratic equality?

    2. The text distinguishes between postmodern feminisms that reject the category of "women" as oppressive and "reconstructivist intersectional feminisms" that aim to rebuild political-legal categories. Why does the author argue that explicitly centering the diverse experiences of "womxn" is a more effective strategy for social transformation than abandoning these categories entirely?

    3. Dr. Steele advocates for "relational liberty" as a collective practice of self-government rather than the liberal view of liberty as merely "the absence of government interference". How does this shift in perspective change our understanding of what it means for a political community to be "free" and "self-determining"?

    4. The author argues for legally-binding intersectional quotas to "intentionally break up" nepotistic hegemonies in parliaments, rather than relying on voluntary "nudges". What are the democratic justifications for using the rule of law to regulate political competition in this way, and how does it address the issue of "private interests" holding public offices hostage?

    5. The text proposes displacing the "abstract political representative" with "radically representative" leadership that reflects the full "bodypolitik". How would the "normalization" of diverse bodies in positions of power transform the performance of political representation from a partisan act into a "sacred practice of liberty"?


    9.13: Discussion Questions is shared under a not declared license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

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