Quillette Podcast Should Feminists Work with the Right?
Sep 11, 2025
Holly Lawford-Smith, a philosopher and author of "Feminism Beyond Left and Right," discusses the evolving landscape of feminist thought. She critiques the phrase 'the personal is political,' highlighting its potential to overshadow important distinctions. Lawford-Smith delves into the fragmentation within feminist movements and the competition for resources, questioning how to maintain solidarity. She also addresses the challenges of intersectionality and the implications of emotionality in advocacy, providing a thought-provoking analysis of modern feminism.
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Reinstate Personal Vs Political Distinction
- The slogan "the personal is political" originally revealed that some private problems are systemic, not individual failures.
- Restoring distinctions lets us target collective action where it truly matters and avoid over-politicizing personal matters.
Costs Of Collapsing Moral And Political Lines
- Conflating moral, personal, and political categories has produced widespread politicization and moralism in university contexts.
- Lawford-Smith argues that reclaiming those distinctions would reduce needless crusading and clarify when collective action is required.
Reserve Political Energy Wisely
- Dial back the impulse to interpret every personal grievance as systemic oppression.
- Reserve political energy for issues requiring collective remedies rather than private moral choices.
