Feminist Human Rights

Kristen Hessler persuasively argues that the practice of human rights can and must be viewed as a source of moral knowledge. The book offers an elegant, much-needed reimagining of the relationship between philosophical theorizing and human rights and of the role of moral theory in human rights practice. Feminist Human Rights: A Political Approach gives one of the clearest and most useful overviews of the dominant approaches to human rights in philosophical literatures out there. Using a self-consciously feminist methodology Hessler effectively explains both why the dominant approaches are so attractive to so many and why a comprehensive reimagining of these approaches is necessary. Hessler dismantles both the conceit that a “purely theoretical” conception of the moral underpinning of human rights is possible or desirable and the misconception that any concept intended to guide action – like a human right – can be adequately theorized without critical moral reflection. Hessler’s use of examples from international humanitarian law demonstrates the value of feminist practice and methodology for human rights. In championing the conceptual significance of how human rights are used, modified, and expanded by practitioners and social movements, Hessler makes a persuasive case for a practice-based, genuinely interdisciplinary approach to normative theorizing. -- Cindy Holder, University of Victoria
Kristen Hessler’s book is an important contribution to the philosophy of human rights, and appeals to a wide, interdisciplinary audience. The book is especially affective in arguing that, to better illuminate the theory and practice of human rights, philosophers should work in close contact with legal scholars, social scientists, and activists. -- Pablo Gilabert, Concordia University
Feminist Human Rights: A Political Approach envisions a process of moral discovery where philosophers and practitioners of human rights engage in a common moral discourse to reach a full understanding of human rights. While most philosophical inquiries keep social and political realities at arm’s length, Kristen Hessler provides a skillful account of the complementary relationship between theory and practice in the specification of human rights norms. With a careful study of the prosecution of sexual crimes in international criminal tribunals, Hessler makes the compelling case that the voices of marginalized groups, victims and activists working in the trenches of social and legal reform are essential to the production of moral knowledge. Hessler brings a significant methodological innovation to the philosophy of human rights and exposes the epistemic risks of theorizing about human rights independently of the moral insights emerging from the practice. This book offers an inspiring model of theoretical research that successfully integrates strong commitments to both moral truth and moral progress -- Eun-Jung Katherine Kim, Wayne State University