Phenomenology, Feminism, and the Archives of Lived Experience

Session Submission Type: Roundtable

Session Description

This roundtable explores the contributions of phenomenological, feminist, and archival methods for political theory. We are particularly interested in how each of these methods reorient inquiry and analysis by centering lived experience. Whereas much political thought has been devoted to the study of political collectives and institutions or to normative claims that assume abstract, universal political citizens, we consider the merits of grounding inquiry in specific, first-person experiences. Careful attention to lived experience may help political theorists craft the analytic arguments needed to combat growing political retrenchment. Phenomenology, feminism, and archives guide us not only in redressing the exclusion of particular subjects' experiences from political thought, especially those of non-dominant genders, races, classes, ethnicities, and abilities, but also in attending to domains and experiences traditionally considered nonpolitical. For example, beyond political consciousness, our discussion will explore how lived political experiences are embodied, as well as how archives variously and unevenly document such experience. How do the insights and perspectives that these methods generate help to reimagine the work–the assumptions, aims, and stakes–of political theory?

Each of the presenters in this roundtable will discuss work-in-progress related to our topic: Lori Marso will discuss her research on the archives of the girl; Shalini Satkunanandan on how psychic distance from reigning values requires practices of physical distancing; Verónica Zebadúa-Yáñez on throwing like a feminist; Nina Hagel on phenomenology and sexual consent; and Isabelle Laurenzi on the political phenomenologies of feminist personal essays. Our work represents a range of topics in political phenomenology. Some of us share a particular interest in feminist theory; others share an interest in expanding the archives of political theory. As an intergenerational bunch, we span different stages of academic careers. We are eager to be in conversation, to ask provocative questions that arise from our research-in-progress, and to invite others to join us.

Sub Unit

• Division 2: Foundations of Political Theory

Chair

• Lori Marso Union College

Presenters

• Shalini Satkunanandan University of California, Davis

• Veronica Zebadua-Yanez Spelman College

• Nina Hagel Wesleyan University

• Isabelle Laurenzi Yale University