Abstract
The Introduction establishes the aim of the book as answering the question, what are social identities (with a particular emphasis on gender identity) for? It outlines how a hermeneutic approach will offer an answer that proves more advantageous than ones given by either identity neo-realists or deflationists. The hermeneutic theory of Hans-Georg Gadamer, which defended the possibility of truth in interpretation without succumbing to either an objective theory of authorial intention or a relativistic theory of reader-response, proves a helpful resource for a feminist theory of identity that aims to foster resistance to identity-based oppression. Recalling hermeneutics’ namesake, Hermes, the messenger between gods and mortals, this book argues that identities are intersubjective interpretations that serve as a means of connection between self and others in order to create more meaningful and vital communities. After setting up this general motivation, an overview of each chapter is provided.
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Barthold, L.S. (2016). Introduction. In: A Hermeneutic Approach to Gender and Other Social Identities. Palgrave Macmillan, New York. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-58897-5_1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-58897-5_1
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