Feminism and Political Theory

Judith Evans, Elizabeth M Meehan, Professor of Politics Georgina Waylen, Tessa Ten Tusscher, Jill Hills, Professor Karen Hunt, Dr Ursula Vogel — 1986

This important critique of the major schools of western political theory, provides a feminist dimension to contemporary political analysis. It covers a wide range of issues relating to political theory and women's studies. This book fills a large gap in political theory and will be essential reading for all political scientists. From different feminist perspectives, the authors reappraise and reconstruct political science in terms of a powerful new critique. Individual chapters consider the development of feminist thought in history and analyse the place occupied by women's issues in contemporary political theory. Conflicts within traditional Marxist as well as 'New Right' ideologies are highlighted by a feminist analysis that reveals how the distinction between 'public' and 'private' spheres in traditional political theory has marginalized women. This work examines the fundamental question of whether it is merely the content, or the essential methods and tools of political analysis, that need to be reassessed.