The Loneliness of the feminist historian
Date
2014-07-18
Authors
McGrath, Ann
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Taylor & Francis
Abstract
Feminist historians in Australia have achieved the critical mass that means that
they no longer need to be the sole woman’s voice pleading to get women into the history
corridors and inside the books. By looking back at recent history reflexively, this article
celebrates the achievement of feminist historians over the past four decades in making
profound impacts on mainstream historical writing and understanding. Engaging in particular
with the work of feminist historians Joan Scott and Joy Damousi, ‘The Loneliness of the
Feminist Historian’ considers whether feminist history has a future. It also reflects upon the
author’s memories of the feminist history movement from the 1970s and 1980s—its aims, its
achievements and its significant successes, especially compared with other social science
disciplines. It explains how certain ‘great (female) historians’ made courageous efforts to
internationalise and pluralise feminist history. It also probes the meaning and relevance of
‘professional masculinities’, pointing out that feminist historians were supported by key male
historians, who backed them in gaining career and publishing opportunities. Additionally, the
challenges of Indigenous scholars led to a sharpening of critical approaches to colonialism.
This article argues, however, that feminist historians cannot afford to cling to the excitement of the early conferences of the 1970s and 1980s, for if they expect their practice to thrive, they must constantly critique it, using the most innovative and best tools of our era, including the empirical, the reflexive, the whimsical and the theoretical.
Description
Keywords
feminist, feminism, historian, feminist historian
Citation
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Source
Australian Feminist Studies
Type
Journal article