Citation

Stear NILSHENNES. Hypatia 2009; 24(2): 21-38.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, Indiana University Press)

DOI

10.1111/j.1527-2001.2009.01030.x

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

In “Rethinking Sadomasochism,” Patrick Hopkins challenges the “radical” feminist claim that sadomasochism is incompatible with feminism. He does so by appeal to the notion of “simulation.” I argue that Hopkins's conclusions are generally right, but they cannot be inferred from his “simulation” argument. I replace Hopkins's “simulation” with Kendall Walton's more sophisticated theory of “make-believe.” I use this theory to better argue that privately conducted sadomasochism is compatible with feminism.