Comment on ‘capitalising difference’

The challenge has forced me to re-think the question of narrative strategy in elucidating how one might conceive 'a feminism within anthropology' (CD: p. 19), as well as a number of substantive issues. However, in order to give breathing space to these, I must clear away some of the emotional debris that the attack has left. I put it like this because the author's, Vicki Kirby's, attribution to me of various (unrecognisable) emotions, such as revelling in the success of certain kinds of anthropology, or seeing the discipline as in a healthy state, suggests that she like myself knows one cannot think without passion. I therefore beg journal space to offer a few direct comments on the article CD as it relates to mine. It will enable me to attach a rather different range of emotions to future reflection on what a feminist anthropology might be able to offer a deconstructive feminism. No binarism intended either. And I record a second kind of gratitude to the author, for her shrewd insights I have found very instructive. When I have caught my breath, it will be to record my own pleasure in being made to think afresh.