Present theories, past realities

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The discussion in this work centers on the current feminist historiographical debate regarding the implications of 'Poststructuralisms' for historical writing. It explores the destabilization and reconceptualization of six seemingly fixed categories: gender, race, experience, woman/women, time, and agency. The author argues that 'poststructuralisms' provide a new understanding of past realities as discursive constructs that do not aim to represent a complete picture of history, thereby challenging traditional notions of historical truth. The goal is to establish parameters for a critical, non-essentialist, and non-foundational historiography. These parameters are grounded in the understanding of language and discourse as systems that create meaning, shape identities, and enable agency. The conclusion drawn is that 'poststructuralisms' can address the limitations of positivist and liberal humanist frameworks in history, transforming historical investigation into an ongoing process that connects past realities with contemporary theories, thus preserving its critical edge and political relevance.