The Straight Mind and Other Essays
Back of the Book
These political, philosophical, and literary essays mark the first collection of theoretical writing from the acclaimed novelist and French feminist writer Monique Wittig. “Among the most provocative and compelling feminist political visions since The Second Sex. These essays represent the radical extension of de Beauvoir’s theory, its unexpected lesbian future. Wittig’s theoretical insights are both precise and far-reaching, and her theoretical style is bold, incisive, even shattering.”
We Love It Because
Monique Witting’s slant on gender identity provides us with many reflections, widening the lens in which we consume understandings of theory. Filled with nuance, there’s no argument that her contributions are refreshing within the greater context of language and history. Subversive and challenging, we appreciate this text for the contemplations of the systems we all move through.
Memorable Passage
For there is no sex. There is but sex that is oppressed and sex that oppresses. It is oppression that creates sex and not the contrary. The contrary would be to say that sex creates oppression, or to say that the cause (origin) of oppression is to be found in sex itself, in a natural division of the sexes preexisting (or outside of) society. The primacy of difference so constitutes our thought that it prevents turning inward on itself to question itself, no matter how necessary that may be to apprehend the basis of that which precisely constitutes it. To apprehend a difference in dialectical terms is to make apparent the contradictory terms to be resolved.
About the Author
Monique Wittig (1935–2003) was a French author and feminist theorist whose profound impact on literature and gender studies has left an enduring legacy. Born in France, Wittig became a leading figure in the feminist movement, challenging traditional notions of gender and sexuality. Her groundbreaking novel The Lesbian Body and the influential The Straight Mind and Other Essays are essential contributions to feminist literature, challenging societal constructs and advocating for the liberation of women. Wittig's works, characterized by their intellectual rigor and innovative narrative techniques, are crucial in the exploration of queer theory and the deconstruction of gender norms. Her activism extended beyond her writing, making her a pivotal figure in the feminist and LGBTQ+ movements. Monique Wittig is worth knowing for her intellectual courage, her dedication to dismantling oppressive structures, and her enduring influence on feminist and queer scholarship, leaving an indelible mark on both literature and social thought.
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