Full Description
Neoliberal Feminism and the Discourse of Self-Improvement utilizes feminist critical discourse analysis to examine the language and narratives within self-help literature targeted at women.
Giuliana Ferri critically explores the discourse of self-improvement, focusing on how neoliberal values of empowerment and individual fulfilment have been co-opted by elite feminism as a "technology of the self." She unpacks how this discourse constructs an idealized image of the "empowered woman"—one who is portrayed as capable of overcoming patriarchy through the affirmation of innate strength and resilience. Drawing on Marxist feminism and feminist social reproduction theory, the book highlights how neoliberal feminism markets women as entrepreneurs, "badass feminists," and successful working mothers, all while obscuring the realities of increasing work precarization and flexibilization in post-industrial societies.
Through its feminist critical discourse analysis, the book reveals how these seemingly empowering narratives shift the responsibility for systemic change onto individuals, rather than positioning feminism as a collective, anti-capitalist movement for liberation. By integrating applied linguistics with Marxist feminism and social reproduction theory, this text provides a unique interdisciplinary perspective, making it a key reading for scholars and students of language, gender, and economic systems.
Contents
Table of contents
Chapter 1. An Introduction to the Contested History of Feminism.
Introduction. The Waves of Feminism: A Contested Narrative Contesting the Narrative of the Waves of Feminism Gender Critical Feminism Femonationalism Conclusion. Aims and Outline of the Book
Chapter 2. The Marxist Wife (Still Does the Housework). Reproductive Labour and the Feminisation of Work.
Introduction. Marxist Feminism. Marxist Feminism and the ''Woman Question''.
Is Reproductive Work Productive? The Marxist Wife (Still Does the Housework)
Marxism and the Oppression of Women Patriarchy and Accumulation on a World Scale Wages for Housework Workerism and Wages for Housework Wages for Housework: Race, Class and Sexuality The Feminisation or Housewification of Work Conclusion. Positioning Affective Labour in the Feminised Neoliberal Economy Chapter 3. Feminist Critical Discourse Analysis Introduction. Feminist Linguistics
The Gender Order
The Reproduction of Gender Heteronormativity Feminist Critical Discourse Analysis The Analysis The Selection of Texts Conclusion. FCDA and Reflexivity
Chapter 4. Neoliberal Feminism and Self-Help Literature.
Introduction. Self-Help and Neoliberal Feminism. Neoliberalism.
Self-Help Literature.
The Neoliberal Gendered Self and Confidence Culture
Conclusion. 'Having It All''. The Rise of Neoliberal Feminism
Chapter 5. The Neoliberal Discourse of Female Empowerment
Introduction. The Discourse of Female Empowerment
Female Entrepreneurship Working Mothers Conclusion. The Empowered Rebel Feminist Conclusion. Social Reproduction and a Feminist Politics of the Commons.
Chapter 6. The Neoliberal Discourse of Female Leadership. Lean In or Lean Out?
Introduction. The Neoliberal Discourse of Female Leadership
Leadership and Gender Equality in the Workplace Lean In Feminism Lean Out. Reactions to Corporate Feminism Lean Out and Right-Wing Feminism Conclusion. The False Dichotomy of Lean Out/Lean In Feminism
Chapter 7. Neoliberal Subjects and Feminist Self-Help. The Discourse of Neoliberal Feminism. Introduction. The Discourse of Neoliberal Feminism. Feminist Self-Help Self-care as a Political Act of Resistance The Future Conclusion. List of Online Resources
