Ask most people to imagine a philosopher and they probably think of someone like Socratesabsent-minded, perhaps, but with a sharp intellect and a thirst for the truth. A woman juggling car pools and housework is not the first image that springs to mind, but women have taken huge steps in the philosophy profession over the past 50 years. Still, to this day, well-established women philosophers continue to face sexism from colleagues and students. Singing in the Fire is a unique, groundbreaking collection of autobiographical essays by leading women in philosophy. It mines the experience of the generation that witnessed, and helped create, the remarkable advances now evident for women in the field. These women are leaders and innovators, looking back on how they have been treated, how they might have done things differently, and how we might make progress in future generations.

Linda Mart'n Alcoff is professor of philosophy, political science, and women's studies at Syracuse University.

Chapter 1 A Life Sentence in Bohemia
Chapter 2 How not to make the right career moves
Chapter 3 Finding my voice: reminiscence of an outlaw
Chapter 4 Taking oneself seriously, but not too
Chapter 5 Freethinking?
Chapter 6 Etc.
Chapter 7 What's a brown girl like you doing in the ivory tower? or, How I became a feminist philosopher
Chapter 8 'Don't smile so much': Philosophy and women in the 1970's
Chapter 9 At the feet of Mrs. Ramsey
Chapter 10 Autobiography of a whistle-blower
Chapter 11 Philosophy and life: A singular case of their interconnection
Chapter 12 Getting here from there