Poems at the edge of differences

More about the book

This study consists of two parts: an overview of feminism’s theory of differences and a textual analysis of poems about ‘mothering’ by women from India, the Caribbean, and Africa. While literary criticism has explored ‘mothering’ in prose, lyrical texts remain underexamined. Since the late 1970s, acknowledging and committing to difference has been central to feminist theory and activism. This investigation promotes a differentiated, ‘locational’ feminism (Friedman) and provides a comprehensive theoretical discussion of concepts such as ‘gender’, ‘race’, ‘ethnicity’, and ‘mothering’, which lays the groundwork for the subsequent analysis of the poems. The focus on ‘mothering’ emphasizes the communicative aspect of women’s experiences and seeks to bridge the gap between theory and practice. Importantly, this study does not define ‘mothering’ as a universal feminine trait; instead, it explores its metaphorical use and discusses concepts like ‘nurturing’, ‘maternal practice’, and ‘social parenthood’. Given the extensive material covered, this work positions itself as an exploratory investigation at the intersections of gender studies, postcolonial, and classical literary studies, aiming to initiate dialogue and exchange between scholars and students in both Western and ‘Third World’ contexts.