Oppression, Privilege, and Resistance: Theoretical Perspectives on Racism, Sexism, and Heterosexism

This anthology is based on a distinct theoretical framework that provides coherence and cohesion to the readings included, presenting the phenomena of racism, sexism, heterosexism, and classism as interlocking systems of oppression. Resting upon this oppression model are two sets of theories, one concerned with the phenomenon of privilege--the companion of oppression--and the other with resistance--the response to oppression.

The significant number of readings addressing the different forms that resistance takes are perhaps the most important part of the book for students struggling with the questions "What is being done?" and "What can I do?"

Lisa Heldke is Associate Professor of Philosophy at Gustavus Adolphus College, where she also teaches in the Women’s Studies Program. She is the author of Exotic Appetites: Ruminations of a Food Adventurer (Routledge 2003) and co-editor of Cooking, Eating, Thinking: Transformative Philosophies of Food (Indiana University Press, 1992). Lisa Heldke and Peg O’Connor are co-editors of Philosophers on Holiday, a quarterly ‘zine in the philosophical travel/leisure genre.

Peg O’Connor is Associate Professor of Women’s Studies at Gustavus Adolphus College, where she also teaches in the Department of Philosophy. She is the author of Oppression and Responsibility: A Wittgensteinian Approach to Social Practices and Moral Theory (The Pennsylvania State University Press, 2003) and co-editor of Feminist Interpretations of Ludwig Wittgenstein (The Pennsylvania State University Press, 2003). Lisa Heldke and Peg O’Connor are co-editors of Philosophers on Holiday, a quarterly ‘zine in the philosophical travel/leisure genre.