Are Women Fully Human? Gender Norms and the Politics of Feminism, with Dr Holly Lawford-Smith

The Political Animals

Holly Lawford-Smith returns to the show for a discussion about her new book, Gender-Critical Feminism (OUP). Following a quick tour of significant developments in the transgender space since Holly and Jonathan last spoke (December, 2021), the pair delve into gender norms, including their connection to sex, distinction from identity, cultural and political significance, the balance of nature versus nurture in gender differences, whether women can genuinely enjoy and embrace gender norms of femininity, the gender-critical feminist critique of liberal feminism, the problem with intersectionality and woke feminism and the place and role of men in the feminist movement.

Dr Holly Lawford-Smith is an Associate Professor in political philosophy in the school of historical and philosophical studies at the University of Melbourne. She works in social, moral and political philosophy with a particular interest in feminism, climate ethics and collective action. She is the author of Gender-Critical Feminism (OUP, 2022).

The Political Animals is hosted by Dr Jonathan Cole, an academic, writer, speaker and translator specialising in political theology: the intersection of religion and politics. Jonathan was a senior terrorism analyst at Australian intelligence agency the Office of National Assessments where he worked on Islamist terrorism and the global jihadist movement. He is the author of The Reign of God: A Critical Engagement with Oliver O'Donovan's Theology of Political Authority and Christian Political Theology in an Age of Discontent: Mediating Scripture, Doctrine, and Political Reality.

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