»Difference« as Privilege - Feminist Goal and Catholic Doctrine Cover Image

»Diferencija« kao povlastica - Feministički ciljevi i katolički nauk
»Difference« as Privilege - Feminist Goal and Catholic Doctrine

Author(s): Anna Maria Grünfelder
Subject(s): Gender Studies
Published by: Hrvatsko Filozofsko Društvo

Summary/Abstract: This article is aimed as a critical notice on Catholic church documents on »women’s question«. The main author’s interest in choosing those church documents was guided by an expression »The Being of Woman«. The author has chosen this motive because »The Being of Woman« has been defined as »difference« – »difference« in relation to Man. »Difference« is, namely, a signpost for the ruling trend in feminist’ discourse nowadays. That is why there has been much talk on »feminism of difference«. The author concludes that Pope John Paul II, as well as cardinal Joseph Ratzinger both took over Edith Stein definition of »Woman’s Being«, by which she has stood in framework of her times, but not the conclusions of hers, that were, at the times, emancipatory and enlightened. The author agrees with Elisabeth Badinter in judging real equality only in relationship with the law. Basic human rights, in the spirit of international conventions, derive from postulate on the equality of everybody, and burdens the politics with obligation to remove shortcomings in law, as well as practical obstacles to full equality.

  • Issue Year: 25/2005
  • Issue No: 02
  • Page Count: 14
  • Language: Croatian