The return of feminist liberalism / Ruth Abbey.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Abbey, Ruth, 1961-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Liberalism.

Okin, Susan Moller.

Hampton, Jean.

Nussbaum, Martha C. (Martha Craven), 1947-.

Nussbaum, Martha C.

Feminism--Political aspects.

Feminism.

Place of Publication:

Montréal : McGill-Queen's University Press, 2011.

Summary:

A central issue in feminist political theory in recent decades has been whether liberalism can continue to serve feminist purposes in gaining the reforms needed for women to lead fuller and freer lives or if feminism's association with liberalism should be relegated to the past.

In The Return of Feminist Liberalism Ruth Abbey examines the work of three contemporary feminists - Martha Nussbaum, Susan Moller Okin, and Jean Hampton - who, notwithstanding decades of feminist critique, are unwilling to give up on liberalism. Abbey examines why, and in what ways, each of these theorists believes that liberalism offers the normative and political resources, for improving women's lives. Going beyond their shared allegiance to liberalism, Abbey explains and evaluates their theoretical differences and in so doing goes to the heart of debates in feminist and political theory, including the sexual, contract, public/domestic separations, structures of power, intersectionality, care, and dependency.

Even-handed and measured, The Return of Feminist Liberalism offers new insights into the tension between feminism and Rawlsian liberalism and will be welcomed by a wide range of readers in political theory, political philosophy, gender studies, and feminist theory. Book jacket.

Contents:

1 The feminist critique of liberalism 10

I The feminist liberalism of Susan Moller Okin

2 Injustices, gender, families 22

3 Defining Okin's liberalism 42

4 He said, she said: the Okin-Rawls debate 61

5 When liberal meanings are not shared 83

6 Going global 103

II The feminist liberalism of Jean Hampton

7 Contracting for feminism 120

8 Kantian feminism 134

III The feminist liberalism of Martha Nussbaum

9 An original position 152

10 What women want 165

11 Capabilities for care 188

IV Contemporary feminist liberalism

12 In the company of critics: feminist liberalism meets feminist critics of liberalism 208

13 Persuasive universalism and political liberalism 226

14 Transformative liberalisms 248.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9780773539143

077353914X

9780773539167

0773539166

OCLC:

707818062