Mary Daly

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Mary Daly (born October 16, 1928 in Schenectady, New York) is a radical feminist and theologian. She taught at Boston College, a Jesuit-run institution, for 33 years. Daly was forcibly retired from Boston College in 1999, after violating university policy.

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[edit] Education

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.

[edit] Career and influence

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Daly taught classes at Boston College from 1967 to 1999, including "Theology", "Introduction to Feminist Ethics", "Feminist Ethics II" and "Myths and Patterns of Patriarchy", and published a number of well-known books including Gyn/ecology: The Metaethics of Radical Feminism (1990) and Pure Lust: Elemental Feminist Philosophy (1992). She is considered by many to be an inspirational feminist and biophilic philosopher; others consider her a misandrist who practices reverse discrimination and perpetuates sexism. Her work continues to influence feminism and feminist theology.

In "Gyn/Ecology" she popularized the idea that the number of 'witches' killed during the Witch Hunt in early modern Europe added up to nine million people, mostly women. This incredibly high figure (which has since been disproven) allowed her to coin the term "Gynocide" and to draw comparisons with the Holocaust. The number was based on the writings of the 19th century feminist Matilda Joslyn Gage, and has no basis in research. (Most estimates range from 60-100,000.[1]) Some neo-pagans and feminists continue to embrace Daly's account.[2]

Daly advocates research into parthenogenesis, the growth and development of an embryo or seed without fertilization by a male. Some interpret this as a search for the means of creating a male-free paradise.[citation needed] Others understand Daly's concept of parthenogenesis as naming "nothing less than the process of a woman creating her Self."[3]

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] Controversy

Daly refused to admit male students to any of her classes at Boston College on the grounds that their presence inhibited class discussion. According to Daly, Women's Studies classes with men in them become "dumbed down." She agreed to meet with male students on an individual basis.

Boston College consistently reprimanded Daly, claiming that her actions were in violation of title IX of federal law requiring the College to ensure that no person was excluded from an education program on the basis of sex, and of the University's own non-discrimination policy insisting that all courses be open to both male and female students.

In 1998, a discrimination claim against the college by two male students was backed by the Center for Individual Rights, a conservative advocacy group. Following further reprimand, Daly absented herself from classes rather than admit the male students.[1] Boston college removed her tenure rights, citing a verbal agreement by Daly to retire. She brought suit against the College disputing violation of her tenure rights and claiming she was forced out against her will, but her request for injunction was denied by Middlesex Superior Court, Judge Martha Sosman.[2]

An out-of-court settlement was reached in which Daly agreed that she had retired from her faculty position.[3] However, Daly maintains that Boston College had wronged her students by depriving her of her right to teach freely.[4] She documented her account of the events in the 2006 book Amazon Grace.

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Brian Levack, The Witch Hunt in Early Modern Europe (New York, Longman, 1987) gives the figure of 60,000. Anne Lewellyn Barstow, Witchcraze (San Francisco: Harper, 1994) gives 100,000. Other works on the Witch Hunt vary, but between 60-100,000 is the usual range.
  2. ^ see http://shekhinah.net/SeasonalInvocations.htm for an example of just one neo-pagan website that continues to use the figure popularised by Daly. There are many others.
  3. ^ 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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