Enlightened women : modernist feminism in a postmodern age /

Assiter's effort to put postmodernist theories to rest is laudable. Although this reviewer still sees much of value in postmodern theories, Assiter's cogent critiques of contradictions and weaknesses in the works of postmodern scholars (Lyotard, Derrida, Irigaray, and Foucault, among others) indicates the limits of such theories in emancipatory agendas such as feminism. This is a clear text, directed at an undergraduate audience. But the selection of this readership is a disservice to the complexity of the subjects of her book and to Assiter's own arguments. For example, postmodernism is portrayed as a flight from universals, yet the author avoids the question of characterizing postmodernity. The book is constrained by a poorly researched and poorly argued critique of constructivist approaches to sexuality, and is bereft of insights from feminist science studies on postpositivist (but not antirealist) epistemologies. Some elements of postmodern and poststructuralist theories do not work well for feminists and others with emancipatory agendas, and Assiter does a good job articulating these. Nonetheless, corrections do not entail a retreat to Enlightenment universals, foundational epistemologies, and biological determinism. J. L. Croissant University of Arizona