The impact of feminism on political concepts and debates


Book Description

Many feminists have engaged with the man-made concepts and approaches of traditional political analysis to produce an increasingly sophisticated and wide-ranging body of thought. The starting point of this book is the belief that such work is not simply 'something for the girls'; rather, it has profound and complex implications without which our understanding of political processes and ideas would be impoverished. This book provides an accessible overview and assessment of the impact of recent feminism by bringing together leading feminist and pro-feminist political theorists and analysts, to focus on key concepts, such as rationality, citizenship, democracy and democratisation, development and empowerment. Each chapter takes a 'malestream' concept and examines both the critical debates around it and feminist reactions/critiques. It then analyses the significance and implications of feminism for the concept, considers whether it can simply be extended to include women, or whether it should be radically transformed or even abandoned, and assesses whether feminist input has become part of the mainstream debate or remains marginalised.




The Impact of Feminism on Political Concepts and Debates


Book Description

Many feminists have engaged with man-made concepts and approaches of traditional political analysis to produce an increasingly sophisticated and wide-ranging body of thought. This book starts with the idea that such work is not simply "something for the girls." Rather, it has profound implications without which our understanding of political processes will be impoverished. This book provides an accessible overview and assessment of the impact of recent feminism. Each chapter takes a "malestream" concept and examines critical debates around it and feminist reactions/critiques. It analyses the significance of feminism for the concept and considers whether it can simply be extended to include women or whether it should be radically transformed or even abandoned.




The Impact of Feminism on Political Concepts and Debates


Book Description

Many feminists have engaged with man-made concepts and approaches of traditional political analysis to produce an increasingly sophisticated and wide-ranging body of thought. This book starts with the idea that such work is not simply "something for the girls." Rather, it has profound implications without which our understanding of political processes will be impoverished. This book provides an accessible overview and assessment of the impact of recent feminism. Each chapter takes a "malestream" concept and examines critical debates around it and feminist reactions/critiques. It analyses the significance of feminism for the concept and considers whether it can simply be extended to include women or whether it should be radically transformed or even abandoned.




Feminism and Politics


Book Description

The essays in this volume attempt to answer questions about gender in a variety of ways, but all see feminism as transforming the way we think about and act in politics







Feminist Debates


Book Description

Are women still oppressed? Is paid employment the key to liberation? Should pornography be banned? Do women have an absolute right to abortion? Can women in government really make a difference? This book draws on a wide range of theoretical, empirical and comparative material to provide a lucid account of feminist debates and the ways in which political disagreements stem from underlying theoretical assumptions. Clear and balanced in its assessment of different problems and perspectives, it offers an essential guide to contemporary feminist thinking and practice.




Fundamental Feminism


Book Description

In Fundamental Feminism, Judith Grant explores the evolution of feminist theory as well as the state of today's feminist thought. Pointing to the main problems within feminism, Grant calls for a substantial revision of the core concepts responsible for shaping today's feminist theory. Grant identifies and critiques three core concepts in feminist theory--"woman," "experience," and "personal politics"--from their origins in pamphlets and writings in the early women's liberation movement to their current construction in feminist thought. She connects a number of key debates in feminism today to the longstanding influence of these core assumptions. These debates include the hegemony of the white female perspective, the tension between anti-pornography and pro-sex feminists, and the challenges presented by postmodernism. Fundamental Feminism is provocative reading for anyone interested in the future of feminist theory and the power of feminist politics.




The Social and Political Philosophy of Mary Wollstonecraft


Book Description

The Social and Political Philosophy of Mary Wollstonecraft brings together new essays from leading scholars, which explore Wollstonecraft's range as a moral and political philosopher of note, taking both a historical perspective and applying her thinking to current academic debates.




Feminist Methodology


Book Description

`An accessible, clearly explained review of difficult concepts within this arena as well as relevant debates. Its strengths are in outlining possible considerations that need to be taken into account when making methodological choices. It also clearly explains how these choices impact knowledge production. This book would undoubtedly be of considerable use to anyone seeking to understand and get to grips with feminist methodological issues′ - Feminism and Psychology Who would be a feminist now? Contemporary ′political realism′ suggests that the essentials of the battle have already been won, and the current generation of women entering University is used to seeing feminism presented as ′old fashioned′, ′extreme′ and ′unrealistic′. Challenging such assumptions, this important new book argues for the value of empirical investigations of gendered life, and brings together the theoretical, political and practical aspects of feminist methodology. Feminist Methodology - demonstrates how feminist approaches to methodology engage with debates in western philosophy to raise critical questions about knowledge production - shows that feminist methodology has a distinctive place in social research - guides the reader through the terrain of feminist methodology and clarifies how feminists can claim knowledge of gendered social existence - connects abstract issues of theory with issues in fieldwork practice. This timely and accessible book will be an essential resource for students in women′s studies, gender studies, sociology, cultural studies, social anthropology and feminist psychology.




The Futures of Feminism


Book Description

This book makes the case for an inclusive form of socialist feminism that puts multiple disadvantaged women at its heart. It moves feminism beyond contemporary disputes, including those between some feminists and some trans women. Combining academic rigour with accessibility, the book demystifies some key feminist terms, including patriarchy and intersectionality, and shows their relevance to feminist politics today. It argues that the analysis of gender cannot be isolated from that of class or race, and that the needs of most women will not be met in an economy based on the pursuit of profit. Throughout, the book asserts the social, economic and human importance of the unpaid caring and domestic work that has been traditionally done by women. It concludes that there are some grounds for optimism about a future that could be both more feminist and more socialist.