Bio: (1935-2011) American philosopher. Sara Ruddick studied at Harvard and taught at New School University in New York. She studied maternal practices and believed that this practice produces a specific form of consciousness and way of thinking. She states that maternal consciousness can be a resource for feminist pacifism, as well as for shaping social relations at the local, national, and global levels. She rejects biological determinism in shaping gender differences and believes that men are capable of caring for children, as well as women. However, she believes that it is wrong to use the gender-neutral notion of parenthood. Pregnancy itself and the act of giving birth are shaped by "natal reflection" which is characterized by a specific understanding of oneself and other people. She believes that motherhood shapes the "ethical singularity of women”. In “Woman of Peace: A Feminist Construction” (1997), Ruddick opens a discussion on whether violence is sometimes necessary, or whether feminists must always advocate for peace. She sharply criticizes Western thought because it focuses on abstract thinking that is separate from any particularist, emotional, or bodily experience.

Main works

Working It Out: 23 Women Writers, Artists, Scientists, and Scholars Talk about Their Lives and Work (1977);

Between Women: Biographers, Novelists, Critics, Teachers, and Artists Write about Their Work on Women (1984);

Maternal Thinking: Toward a Politics of Peace (1989).