Another Mother: Diotima and the Symbolic Order of Italian Feminism

Another Mother is a groundbreaking volume that introduces the unique feminist thought of the Italian group Diotima to English-speaking audiences. It argues that the question of the mother is essential to comprehend contemporary culture and society and to pursue feminist political projects. The volume provides a multifaceted panorama of Diotima's engagement with various currents of thought, including structuralism, psychoanalysis, linguistics, and Marxism, and develops concepts of the mother and sexual difference that differ from both French and U.S. feminisms. It opens an important space for reflections on the past history of feminism and on its future.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 344 pages
Publication date: 18 December 2018
Publisher: University of Minnesota Press

Another Mother is a groundbreaking work that delves into the unique feminist thought of the renowned Italian group Diotima, presenting it to an Anglophone audience for the first time. This book argues that understanding the role of the mother is crucial in comprehending the complex matrix of contemporary culture and society and in pursuing feminist political projects.

Focusing on Diotima, a community of women philosophers who have been actively engaged in feminist politics since the 1960s, this volume offers a comprehensive exploration of their engagement with various intellectual currents, including structuralism, psychoanalysis, linguistics, and Marxism. Starting from the fundamental insight that the mother is the one who gives us life and language, these thinkers develop innovative concepts of the mother and sexual difference in contemporary society that differ significantly from both French and U.S. feminisms.

Another Mother makes a significant contribution by arguing that Diotima anticipates many of the themes in contemporary philosophical discourses of biopolitics, exemplified by thinkers such as Giorgio Agamben, Antonio Negri, and Roberto Esposito. By opening up an important space for reflections on the past history of feminism and on its potential future directions, this book contributes to the ongoing dialogue within feminist thought.

The book is authored by a group of distinguished contributors, each of whom brings their unique perspectives and expertise to the discussion. The contributors include Anne Emmanuelle Berger, Paris 8 U–Vincennes Saint-Denis; Ida Dominijanni; Luisa Muraro; Diana Sartori, University of Verona; and Chiara Zamboni, University of Verona.

In conclusion, Another Mother is a groundbreaking work that offers a fresh and insightful perspective on feminist thought, particularly within the Italian context. By exploring the role of the mother and its significance in shaping contemporary culture and society, this book provides valuable insights for scholars, activists, and anyone interested in advancing feminist political projects.

Weight: 460g
Dimension: 140 x 216 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781517904944