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A review by shukri
A Feminist Theory of Violence: A Decolonial Perspective by Françoise Vergès
2.5
from my goodreads:
2.5 stars really and truly - I think it is a good introductory text to those who don’t know anything about the problems of carceral feminism, racial nature of policing, or prison abolition. For those of you who do, I would suggest skipping this; the analysis felt like nothing new and instead echoed previous arguments made by abolitionist feminists and black feminists without Verges herself adding anything new besides contemporary examples to illustrate these points.
Each chapter was approx 20 pages and brought up so many points but due to its short and compact nature, Verges could not thoroughly engage with the ideas she brought up and ultimately stifled the potentially radical and critical nature of her text.
What I would recommend instead (texts that addressed the points Verges made/brought up in brilliant and incisive ways - although they are more difficult, which is why I think Feminist Theory of Violence is a good introductory text):
- Revolting Prostitutes: The Fight for Sex Workers Rights by Molly Smith and Juno Mac
- The Right to Maim by Jasbir Puar
- No Mercy Here by Sarah Haley
- Mama’s Baby, Papa’s Maybe by Hortense Spillers
- Captive Genders by E A Stanley and N Smith
- Us and Them? The Dangerous Politics of Immigration Control by Bridget Anderson
- Race, Gender, and the Body in British Immigration Control by E Smith and M Marmo
Also, the lack of engagement here with Puar’s work, Haley’s work, and masculinities studies really disappointed me.
2.5 stars really and truly - I think it is a good introductory text to those who don’t know anything about the problems of carceral feminism, racial nature of policing, or prison abolition. For those of you who do, I would suggest skipping this; the analysis felt like nothing new and instead echoed previous arguments made by abolitionist feminists and black feminists without Verges herself adding anything new besides contemporary examples to illustrate these points.
Each chapter was approx 20 pages and brought up so many points but due to its short and compact nature, Verges could not thoroughly engage with the ideas she brought up and ultimately stifled the potentially radical and critical nature of her text.
What I would recommend instead (texts that addressed the points Verges made/brought up in brilliant and incisive ways - although they are more difficult, which is why I think Feminist Theory of Violence is a good introductory text):
- Revolting Prostitutes: The Fight for Sex Workers Rights by Molly Smith and Juno Mac
- The Right to Maim by Jasbir Puar
- No Mercy Here by Sarah Haley
- Mama’s Baby, Papa’s Maybe by Hortense Spillers
- Captive Genders by E A Stanley and N Smith
- Us and Them? The Dangerous Politics of Immigration Control by Bridget Anderson
- Race, Gender, and the Body in British Immigration Control by E Smith and M Marmo
Also, the lack of engagement here with Puar’s work, Haley’s work, and masculinities studies really disappointed me.