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“Well, you go there to get off” Visiting Feminist Care Ethics through a Women’s Bathhouse

Cooper, Davina (2007) “Well, you go there to get off” Visiting Feminist Care Ethics through a Women’s Bathhouse. Feminist Theory, 8 (3). pp. 243-262. ISSN 1464-7001. (doi:10.1177/1464700107082364) (Access to this publication is currently restricted. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:1543)

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Abstract

This paper examines normative feminist care scholarship through the lens of a sexual bathhouse. At first glance, a space dedicated to casual sexual pleasure seems at odds with care ethics. Drawing on Toronto Women’s Bathhouse (TWB) as a case study, this paper argues that bathhouse spaces can exemplify feminist care norms. At the same time, as a casual sexual space oriented towards personal autonomy, carefree conduct, and self-care, TWB also challenges certain feminist care assumptions. Drawing on these challenges, in the light of wider problems with normative care theorizing, particularly the sanitization and idealization of personal relationships, the paper seeks to revision care along non-normative lines.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1177/1464700107082364
Uncontrolled keywords: bathhouse, care, feminist ethics, lesbian, sex
Subjects: K Law
Divisions: Divisions > Division for the Study of Law, Society and Social Justice > Kent Law School
Depositing User: A. Davies
Date Deposited: 19 Dec 2007 19:01 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Nov 2021 09:40 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/1543 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Cooper, Davina.

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