Feminism and Hospitality: Gender in the Host/Guest Relationship

"Maurice I lamington has constructed a dynamic. historically informed theoretical framework to explore the relationship between feminism and hospitality. Its relevance to social issues. from houses of prostitution and bed and breakfast establishments to the devastation of (and recovery from) Hurricane Katrina, and the plight of new immigrants in the United States and Europe, includes a full range of social analyses from domestic to international hospitality. and will encourage further work on its topics."-Betty J. Harris, professor at the University of Oklahoma

This collection beautifully demonstrates that the notion of hospitality is much richer than first meets the eye. Using gender as their jumping-off point. the contributors draw on a number of theoretical frameworks to explore hospitality in the home, in international contexts. in (or as) business, and in film and literature. Join them in this fascinating examination make yourself at home." Hilde Lindemann, professor at Michigan State University

Feminism and Hospitality is an important text that illuminates how hospitality is defined and redefined in local and global contexts that necessarily intertwine public and private spheres. The range of topics, national location, and relationships considered truly make this a unique and provocative text. Hamington succeeds in powerfully making the case that hospitality deserves more attention in our complex and often inhospitable world."-Rebecca Ropers-Huilman, professor at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and editor of Feminist Formations

Hospitality is something of a modern paradox. On the one hand, hospitality connotes a nicety or pleasantry easily undervalued as a ritual or formality devoid of epistemological or ethical content. On the other the rise in international conflict and violence, the decline of civil speech, and the increased hostility toward immigrants point to the dire need for hospitable responses to mitigate tensions.

Hospitality represents a further paradox for feminism. Historically women have been saddled with disproportionate responsibility for hospitality and case also been treated as unwelcome guests in so many arenas. For these reasons, feminists have good reason to be wary of addressing hospitality. Yet, feminist theory has taken the lead on developing ontological, epistemological, and ethical approaches to connectedness and relationality such that addressing hospitality appears to be an appropriate extrapolation. Feminism and Hospitality: Gender in the Host/Guest Relationship is a collection that negotiates these intriguing paradoxes.

Feminism and Hospitality is the first collection of original works to bring a feminist analysis to issues and theories of personal, political, economic, and artistic hospitality. Furthermore, because feminist theorists have brought so much attention to the nature of human relationships, this volume employs a fresh analysis beyond the tradition in political theory.

Maurice Hamington is associate professor of women's studies and philosophy at Metropolitan state College of Denver

Maurice Hamington is associate professor of women's studies and philosophy at Metropolitan State College of Denver