New Books in History Carolyn J. Eichner, "Feminism's Empire" (Cornell UP, 2022)
Dec 1, 2025
Carolyn J. Eichner, a Professor of History and Women’s and Gender Studies, delves into the intricate connections between 19th-century French feminisms and imperialism. She discusses five pioneering feminists, highlighting their diverse political philosophies—from anarchism to conservatism—and their complex critiques of empire. Eichner challenges the simplistic pro- vs. anti-imperialist narratives by showcasing how these feminists navigated and sometimes embraced imperial contexts in their pursuit of gender liberation. Her insights reveal the deeply intertwined nature of gender and power.
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Feminist Anti-Imperialisms Are Complex
- Eichner argues 19th-century French feminists critiqued empire but did not fit a simple pro/anti-imperial binary.
- Their feminism produced varied anti-imperialisms and sometimes feminist imperialisms tied to racial hierarchies.
Travel Writing That Idealized Whiteness
- Olympe Baudouard was a prolific travel writer who praised selective foreign practices while upholding most hierarchies except gender.
- She idealized whiteness and claimed some foreign laws gave women more autonomy than Napoleonic France.
Intimacy Reveals Imperial Power
- Chapter 1 frames how feminists' embodied experiences in colonies shaped their critiques of metropole power.
- Intimacy here means everyday proximity, violence, and gendered encounters that reveal imperial control.
