Martha McCaughey
Encyclopedia
Martha McCaughey, PhD
, (born 25 October 1966) is the director of Women's Studies
at Appalachian State University
. Her research and writings have dealt extensively with evolutionary psychology
as applied to gender
. Her most recent book is "The Caveman Mystique: Pop-Darwinism and the Debates over Sex, Violence, and Science" (2008, Routledge). This book reveals McCaughey's ability to complicate debates in both feminism and evolutionary science.
Among her writings are two similarly titled books: Real Knockouts: the Physical Feminism of Women’s Self-Defense (ISBN 0-8147-5577-1) in 1997 and Reel Knockouts: Violent Women in the Movies (ISBN 0-292-75251-2), which she co-edited in 2001 with Neal King.
Real Knockouts made McCaughey's mark in feminist theory
, as the first comprehensive attempt to bridge the gap between academia
and mainstream women's self-defense
. In it, she defines the self-defense movement serves as a form of feminist
empowerment
and consciousness raising
that can be used to make feminist theory
accessible to women who would otherwise be unreceptive. She also proposes the idea that by participating in self-defense, women change the definition of femininity and alter the gender role
s, both male and female, that support existing rape culture
. Although McCaughey takes a generally positive stance regarding self-defense, and dedicates a chapter to countering various criticisms of women's self-defense from within feminist theory, she does acknowledge and examine several practical and legal concerns with self-defense. As part of that, she analyzes the legal repercussions of violent self-defense, including consideration of the way that racism
, classism
, sexism
, and stereotypes concerning battered wife syndrome
affect the legal system's judgement on whether or not a woman's self-defense is legitimate.
Reel Knockouts (co-edited with Neal M. King) is a collection of essays that examine portrayals of violent women in film.
She is also the co-editor, with Michael D. Ayers, of Cyberactivism: Online Activism in Theory and Practice (2003, Routledge).
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
, (born 25 October 1966) is the director of Women's Studies
Women's studies
Women's studies, also known as feminist studies, is an interdisciplinary academic field which explores politics, society and history from an intersectional, multicultural women's perspective...
at Appalachian State University
Appalachian State University
Appalachian State University is a comprehensive , public, coeducational university located in Boone, North Carolina, United States. Appalachian State, also referred to as Appalachian, App State, or simply App, is the sixth largest institution in the University of North Carolina system...
. Her research and writings have dealt extensively with evolutionary psychology
Evolutionary psychology
Evolutionary psychology is an approach in the social and natural sciences that examines psychological traits such as memory, perception, and language from a modern evolutionary perspective. It seeks to identify which human psychological traits are evolved adaptations, that is, the functional...
as applied to gender
Gender
Gender is a range of characteristics used to distinguish between males and females, particularly in the cases of men and women and the masculine and feminine attributes assigned to them. Depending on the context, the discriminating characteristics vary from sex to social role to gender identity...
. Her most recent book is "The Caveman Mystique: Pop-Darwinism and the Debates over Sex, Violence, and Science" (2008, Routledge). This book reveals McCaughey's ability to complicate debates in both feminism and evolutionary science.
Among her writings are two similarly titled books: Real Knockouts: the Physical Feminism of Women’s Self-Defense (ISBN 0-8147-5577-1) in 1997 and Reel Knockouts: Violent Women in the Movies (ISBN 0-292-75251-2), which she co-edited in 2001 with Neal King.
Real Knockouts made McCaughey's mark in feminist theory
Feminist theory
Feminist theory is the extension of feminism into theoretical, or philosophical discourse, it aims to understand the nature of gender inequality...
, as the first comprehensive attempt to bridge the gap between academia
Academia
Academia is the community of students and scholars engaged in higher education and research.-Etymology:The word comes from the akademeia in ancient Greece. Outside the city walls of Athens, the gymnasium was made famous by Plato as a center of learning...
and mainstream women's self-defense
Self-defense
Self-defense, self-defence or private defense is a countermeasure that involves defending oneself, one's property or the well-being of another from physical harm. The use of the right of self-defense as a legal justification for the use of force in times of danger is available in many...
. In it, she defines the self-defense movement serves as a form of feminist
Feminism
Feminism is a collection of movements aimed at defining, establishing, and defending equal political, economic, and social rights and equal opportunities for women. Its concepts overlap with those of women's rights...
empowerment
Empowerment
Empowerment refers to increasing the spiritual, political, social, racial, educational, gender or economic strength of individuals and communities...
and consciousness raising
Consciousness raising
Consciousness raising is a form of political activism, pioneered by United States feminists in the late 1960s...
that can be used to make feminist theory
Feminist theory
Feminist theory is the extension of feminism into theoretical, or philosophical discourse, it aims to understand the nature of gender inequality...
accessible to women who would otherwise be unreceptive. She also proposes the idea that by participating in self-defense, women change the definition of femininity and alter the gender role
Gender role
Gender roles refer to the set of social and behavioral norms that are considered to be socially appropriate for individuals of a specific sex in the context of a specific culture, which differ widely between cultures and over time...
s, both male and female, that support existing rape culture
Rape culture
Rape culture is a term which originated in women's studies and feminist theory, describing a culture in which rape and sexual violence against women are common and in which prevalent attitudes, norms, practices, and media condone, normalize, excuse, or tolerate sexual violence against women...
. Although McCaughey takes a generally positive stance regarding self-defense, and dedicates a chapter to countering various criticisms of women's self-defense from within feminist theory, she does acknowledge and examine several practical and legal concerns with self-defense. As part of that, she analyzes the legal repercussions of violent self-defense, including consideration of the way that racism
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
, classism
Classism
Classism is prejudice or discrimination on the basis of social class. It includes individual attitudes and behaviors, systems of policies and practices that are set up to benefit the upper classes at the expense of the lower classes...
, sexism
Sexism
Sexism, also known as gender discrimination or sex discrimination, is the application of the belief or attitude that there are characteristics implicit to one's gender that indirectly affect one's abilities in unrelated areas...
, and stereotypes concerning battered wife syndrome
Battered woman defence
The battered woman defense is a defense used in court that the person accused of an assault / murder was suffering from battered person syndrome at the material time. Because the defense is most commonly used by women, it is usually characterised in court as battered woman syndrome or battered wife...
affect the legal system's judgement on whether or not a woman's self-defense is legitimate.
Reel Knockouts (co-edited with Neal M. King) is a collection of essays that examine portrayals of violent women in film.
She is also the co-editor, with Michael D. Ayers, of Cyberactivism: Online Activism in Theory and Practice (2003, Routledge).