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The sex of nature : a reinterpretation of Irigaray's 'Metaphysics and political thought'.

Research output: Contribution to Journal/MagazineJournal articlepeer-review

Published
<mark>Journal publication date</mark>2003
<mark>Journal</mark>Hypatia: A Journal of Feminist Philosophy
Issue number3
Volume18
Number of pages25
Pages (from-to)60-84
Publication StatusPublished
<mark>Original language</mark>English

Abstract

I argue that Irigaray's recent work develops a theoretically cogent and politically radical form of realist essentialism. I suggest that she identifies sexual difference with a fundamental difference between the rhythms of percipient fluids constituting women's and men's bodies, supporting this with a philosophy of nature that she justifies phenomenologically and ethically. I explore the politics Irigaray derives from this philosophy, which affirms the sexes' rights to realize the possibilities of their rhythmically diverse bodies.