Edith Stein

woman and essence

Kathleen Haney

pp. 213-235

in: Linda Fisher, Lester Embree (eds), Feminist phenomenology, Berlin, Springer, 2000

Abstract

Edith Stein spoke those words in 1932 to a meeting of the liberal Organization of Catholic women held in Zurich. She could say them today at almost any gathering of women and her words would still resonate, her adjudication of the problem of woman would still be of interest. The philosophic problem of feminism, then or now, Nazis or New Millennium, remains knowing the nature and value of woman. In this paper, I shall provide a phenomenological reading of Edith Stein's work that may seem a travesty to feminists trained in other fields or to those outside of a religious tradition since Stein's feminism includes an essentialism which distinguishes the masculine and feminine principles, indubitable to Stein since given in the Word of God. Nevertheless, this passionate woman may still speak to other women.

Cited authors

Stein Edith