Forgiveness, Feminism, and the Diversity of Women's Experiences
by Alice MacLachlan
Abstract
Why should feminists concern themselves with the question of forgiveness? In this paper I argue that there are a number of reasons why current philosophical discussion of forgiveness is of interest to feminist philosophers. In particular, I suggest that the problem of forgiveness highlights ways in which moral and political philosophy can sometimes lose the ability to represent diverse moral experiences by conforming too closely to theoretical demands. By outlining the mainstream debate over forgiveness, giving reasons why feminist thinkers are particularly relevant to it, and critically examining two recent articles on forgiveness and feminism, I hope to sketch an approach to the topic that does not silence or restrain the phenomenology of forgiving as women experience it.