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Feminist debates : issues of theory and political practice / Valerie Bryson ; consultant editor Jo Campling.
- Format:
- Book
- Author/Creator:
- Bryson, Valerie, 1948-
- Language:
- English
- Subjects (All):
- Feminism.
- Women's rights.
- Physical Description:
- x, 267 pages ; 23 cm
- Place of Publication:
- New York : New York University Press, 1999.
- Summary:
- Are women still oppressed? Is paid employment the key to liberation? Should pornography be banned? Can women in government really make a difference? Do women have an absolute right to an abortion? Is feminism just for white, middle-class women? And what about men?
- Feminists today disagree on these and other issues. This book provides a clear and balanced assessment of current debates and the theoretical assumptions that underlie them. By disentangling questions of style and strategy from more profound disagreements, it points the way to more effective forms of feminist political practice.
- It provides comparative material on the situation of women in western societies, examining women's participation in the workplace, the changing structure of the family, the extent of male violence against women, the development of reproductive technology, the political representation of women and the role of the law in maintaining and challenging gender inequalities. It also provides a clear and accessible analysis of feminist theories, using this to clarify political debates.
- The political, social, personal, philosophical, and ethical issues addressed by feminists affect us all. This lucid and engaging book is essential reading for students in a wide range of disciplines and for all who care about the future of society.
- Contents:
- 1 Feminism and the Situation of Women Today 1
- Women today: the balance-sheet of change 2
- Feminist debates 5
- 2 Feminist Theories Today 8
- Equal rights: the 'common sense' liberal approach 9
- Capitalism and socialism: the oppression and liberation of women? 16
- 'Radical', women-centred approaches 25
- Black feminism: from margin to centre? 32
- The impact of post-modernism 36
- Conclusions: feminist theory and political practice today 43
- 3 Gender, Race and Class 45
- The language of 'gender', 'race' and 'class' 45
- Feminism: a racist, class-based movement? 59
- Who is the most oppressed?: from hierarchical to interdependent oppressions 61
- Where do we go from here? 66
- 4 Feminism and the Law 72
- A male-dominated profession 72
- Equality with men: employment law 74
- Equality with men: the criminal law 78
- Gender and justice: women's 'different voice' 81
- Law in a patriarchal society 82
- Strategies for change 84
- 5 Politics and the State 90
- Feminist theory and political concepts 90
- Recent political experience in Britain, the United States and Scandinavia 101
- Feminism and the political representation of women 112
- Conclusions: feminist political strategies today 121
- 6 The Family and Paid Employment 123
- The family 123
- Paid employment 135
- Conclusions: towards a better balance in the interests of all 145
- 7 Reproduction 148
- The situation today 149
- Competing perspectives on 'a woman's right to choose' 155
- Beyond rights: abortion and feminist debates 161
- Conclusions: feminism and the politics of reproduction 170
- 8 Pornography 172
- Feminists, pornography and the law: an overview of the debates 176
- What is pornography? 180
- Pornography, harm and the oppression of women 184
- Conclusions: debates and strategies for the 21st century 192
- 9 The Problem of Men 195
- Theoretical starting-points 196
- Men and feminist theory today 203
- What is a nice man to do? 210.
- Notes:
- Includes bibliographical references (pages 228-255) and index.
- ISBN:
- 0814713475
- 0814713483
- OCLC:
- 40269768
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