Mary Daly

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Mary Daly (born October 16, 1928 in Schenectady, New York) is a radical feminist theologian. Before obtaining her three doctorates in sacred theology and philosophy from the University of Fribourg, Switzerland, she received her B.A. in English from The College of Saint Rose, her M.A. in English from The Catholic University of America, and a doctorate in religion from St. Mary's College. She taught at Boston College, a Jesuit-run institution, for 33 years. Daly was forcibly retired from Boston College in 1999.

Daly is considered by many to be an intriguing and inspirational feminist philosopher who has intricately woven into words the idea of living out a biophilic life; by others she is considered as a misandrist who practices reverse discrimination and perpetuates sexism. Her work has influenced decades of feminist work and theology and continues to make a dramatic impact.

She has advocated research into parthenogenesis (the growth and development of an embryo or seed without fertilization by a male) as a means of creating a male-free paradise. This interpretation of parthenogenesis in her literary work has often been cited by some. However, many understand Parthenogenesis in her philosophical work, Pure Lust: Elemental Feminist Philosophy as naming "nothing less than the process of a woman creating her Self."[1]

Controversially, Daly refused to admit male students to her introduction to feminist ethics class at Boston College. Instead, she agreed to meet with male students interested in feminism on an individual basis. The confrontations came to a head in 1998, when she refused to admit a male student into a class she was teaching. According to Boston College, the conflict unfolded as follows: Boston College confronted her and demanded she admit the student; Daly said that she would rather retire. Boston College used this as a "verbal agreement to retire" and forced her out against her will.

She brought a lawsuit against the college in May 1999 because they had violated her rights as a tenured professor. As the case was about to go to trial in early 2001, Daly and Boston College reached an out-of-court settlement.

Daly recently protested the commencement speech of Condoleezza Rice at Boston College and continues to speak on campuses around the United States as well as internationally.

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Daly, Mary. Pure Lust: Elemental Feminist Philosophy, page 114. Beacon Press: Boston. 1984

[edit] Bibliography

  • Amazon Grace: Re-Calling the Courage to Sin Big. Palgrave Macmillan, 2006. ISBN 1-4039-6853-5
  • Quintessence: Realizing the Archaic Future. A Radical Elemental Feminist Manifesto. Beacon Press, 1998.
  • Websters' First New Intergalactic Wickedary of the English Language. (with Jane Caputi and Sudie Rakusin) Harper, 1994.
  • Outercourse: The Bedazzling Voyage Containing Recollections from My Logbook of a Radical Feminist Philosopher. Harper, 1992.
  • Pure Lust: Elemental Feminist Philosophy. Harper, 1992.
  • Gyn/ecology: The Metaethics of Radical Feminism. Beacon Press. 1990 ISBN 0-8070-1413-3
  • The Church and the Second Sex. Harper & Row, 1968. Reprint: Beacon Press, 1985.
  • Beyond God the Father: Toward a Philosophy of Women's Liberation. Beacon Press, 1973.
  • Natural Knowledge of God in the Philosophy of Jacques Maritain. Officium Libri Catholici, 1966.

[edit] External links

Persondata
NAME Daly, Mary
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION Feminist theologian
DATE OF BIRTH October 16, 1928
PLACE OF BIRTH Schenectady, New York, United States
DATE OF DEATH living
PLACE OF DEATH
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