Overview

Fixing Gender uses psychoanalysis to explore the theoretical implications for the gendering of the human subject that arise from the situation of lesbians raising children from birth. In the face of the powerful evidence of the ways gender operates, and in the deep structural ways the logic of gender perpetuates, both made visible by psychoanalysis, this book asks: Is gender always fixed? Can the system which is produced by, and which produces, gender be altered? Can gender be fixed? The work begins by sketching the implications of gender as elucidated by feminist thinkers in general and feminist psychoanalytic thinkers in particular. Moving to Freud's theory of the subject, the work examines the logic of the Oedipus complex, and from there it looks at what feminist object relations theorists have done with and to the logic of the Oedipus complex. The book then moves to the literature on lesbian family functioning; and finally the work ends with a radical interrogation into the possibilities enabled by paying attention to form, and highlighting its constitutive possibilities.

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9781611470307

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Reviews

Informed by Freud's Oedipus complex, feminist psychoanalysis, and relational theory, this book explores the subjective possibilities and impossibilities of being a lesbian mother. The book has numerous strengths. Distiller (English, Univ. of Cape Town, South Africa) does a fine job of discerning and critiquing the inevitable intersections of sex, gender, and sexuality; describing the dilemmas surrounding recognition as lesbian, mother, and lesbian mother; illustrating the roles of others and the impact of others' evaluations of lesbian co-parent family life; and highlighting the paradoxes of being a mother (an identity riddled with gendered and heterosexual assumptions), a lesbian (an identity often perceived in conflict with or in contrast to being a mother), and an other mother. The other mother identity marks both the legitimacy of a lesbian parent and her difference, especially in contexts infused with assumptions of heterosexual mothering. The author concludes by suggesting ways to embody lesbian motherhood differently--at the same time cautiously noting how different kinds of embodiment can simultaneously perpetuate and deviate from gendered and heterosexual parenting norms. The writing style is accessible and appropriate for those familiar with psychoanalysis, feminism, and queer theory. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty and professionals. CHOICE

Informed by Freud's Oedipus complex, feminist psychoanalysis, and relational theory, this book explores the subjective possibilities and impossibilities of being a 'lesbian mother.' It does a fine job of discerning and critiquing the inevitable intersections of sex, gender, and sexuality; describing the dilemmas surrounding recognition as lesbian, mother, and lesbian mother; illustrating the roles of others and the impact of others' evaluations of lesbian co-parent family life; and highlighting the paradoxes of being a 'mother,' a 'lesbian,' and an 'other mother.' Summing Up: Highly recommended CHOICE

Informed by Freud's Oedipus complex, feminist psychoanalysis, and relational theory, this book explores the subjective possibilities and impossibilities of being a `lesbian mother.' It does a fine job of discerning and critiquing the inevitable intersections of sex, gender, and sexuality; describing the dilemmas surrounding recognition as lesbian, mother, and lesbian mother; illustrating the roles of others and the impact of others' evaluations of lesbian co-parent family life; and highlighting the paradoxes of being a `mother,' a `lesbian,' and an `other mother.' Summing Up: Highly recommended * CHOICE * Informed by Freud's Oedipus complex, feminist psychoanalysis, and relational theory, this book explores the subjective possibilities and impossibilities of being a 'lesbian mother.' It does a fine job of discerning and critiquing the inevitable intersections of sex, gender, and sexuality; describing the dilemmas surrounding recognition as lesbian, mother, and lesbian mother; illustrating the roles of others and the impact of others' evaluations of lesbian co-parent family life; and highlighting the paradoxes of being a 'mother,' a 'lesbian,' and an 'other mother.' Summing Up: Highly recommended CHOICE

Author Information

Natasha Distiller is an associate professor of English at the University of Cape Town.

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