Marilyn Frye

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Marilyn Frye
Born1941 (age 82–83)
Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.
Education

Marilyn Frye (born 1941) is an American philosopher and radical feminist theorist. She is known for her theories on sexism, racism, oppression, and sexuality. Her writings offer discussions of feminist topics, such as: white supremacy, male privilege, and gay and lesbian marginalization. Although she approaches the issues from the perspective of justice, she is also engaged with the metaphysics, epistemology, and moral psychology of social categories.

Contents

Education and career

Frye received a BA with honors in philosophy from Stanford University in 1963 and a PhD in philosophy at Cornell University in 1969. She wrote her dissertation, titled Meaning and Illocutionary Force, under the supervision of Max Black. Before coming to Michigan State University in 1974, she taught in the philosophy department at the University of Pittsburgh. From 2003 until her retirement, Frye was University Distinguished Professor at Michigan State University; she also served as Associate Dean for Graduate Studies of the College of Arts and Letters. In 2008 she was the Phi Beta Kappa Romanell Lecturer.

Research and publications

Frye is the author of The Politics of Reality [1] (1983), a collection of nine essays which has become a "classic" of feminist philosophy. [2]

In her chapter entitled "Oppression" in the book Feminist Frontiers, Frye discusses the idea of the double bind in gender. This double bind refers to "situations in which options are reduced to a very few and all of them expose one to penalty, censure or deprivation". Frye applies this principle to gender and the dilemma women often face in her discussion of oppression. For example, it is neither socially acceptable for a woman to be sexually active or for her to be sexually inactive and labelled a "man-hater" or "uptight". This absence of choice permeates so thoroughly into women's day-to-day life that even small things like how they choose to dress or talk are criticized. Frye acknowledges that men face issues as well, but differentiates the issues of men and women through the metaphor of a bird cage. As Frye tells it, each individual bind women face can be thought of as a single bar in a cage: by itself, it isn't enough to contain the bird. But, with enough bars, the bird is trapped inside the cage, left with nowhere to go. This is the complete absence of choice Frye describes: how it is the culmination of issues women face that is so "immobilizing" and why, for Frye, their struggle—and not men's—is considered oppression. [3]

Frye is a lesbian, [4] and much of her work explores social categories—in particular, those based on race and gender. [5] [6] [7]

Awards and distinctions

Bibliography

Books

Chapters in books

Journal articles

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References

  1. ↑ Frye, Marilyn. The Politics of Reality: Essays in Feminist Theory, The Crossing Press, 1983, ISBN   0-89594-099-X, p175
  2. ↑ Cudd, Ann (2006). "Frye, Marilyn (1941-)". Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
  3. ↑ Frye, Marilyn (2007). "Oppression". Feminist Frontiers (7th ed.). pp. 7–9.
  4. ↑ Willful Virgin: Essays in Feminism, 1976-1992 (1992)
  5. ↑ "MSU Philosopher Marilyn Frye Wins Romanell-Phi Beta Kappa Professorship". Michigan State University. Archived from the original on August 15, 2007. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  6. ↑ "Book Review: Frye's Politics of Reality". Kid Cutbank. May 16, 2012. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
  7. ↑ Card, Claudia (1986). "Oppression and Resistance: Frye's Politics of Reality". Hypatia. 1 (1): 149–166. doi:10.1111/j.1527-2001.1986.tb00526.x. S2CID   145078457.
  8. ↑ Distinguished Woman Philosopher of the Year
  9. ↑ "MSU Women's Studies Newsletter Spring 2000". Michigan State University. Archived from the original on September 8, 2007. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
  10. ↑ "Phi Beta Kappa Society '07 Romanell Professor". The Phi Beta Kappa Society. February 7, 2007. Archived from the original on May 19, 2007. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
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