Alison Stone is Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at Lancaster University.

"Alison Stone explains with a rare clarity the many theories of feminist philosophies which revolve around some basic concepts (sex, gender, sexual diversity, essentialism, birth, feminism) and reveals the many prejudices that these concepts carry to the detriment of both women and men."Epistemologia "Moving deftly through an impressive range of literature in psychoanalysis, gender theory, equality-difference debates, and complex questions about gender essentialism, Stone offers a thoughtful, scholarly and practical introduction to a range of interpretive strategies and symbolic structures that sustain gendered oppression and subordination. The book is a fine resource for professional philosophers, and an excellent, accessible teaching text."Lorraine Code, YorkUniversity, Toronto"The considerable accomplishment of this comprehensive and reliable guide is the fine balance it achieves. It stands as a model of clarity and of philosophical argument, which on the one hand avoids making unexplained assumptions, and on the other hand manages to avoid being reductive. It constitutes a valuable resource for readers who want to familiarize themselves with the field, and a useful tool for those who seek clarification of central debates."Tina Chanter, DePaul University, Chicago

• AcknowledgementsHow to use this bookIntroduction: What is Feminist Philosophy?Chapter 1 SexChapter 2 GenderChapter 3 SexualityChapter 4 Sexual DifferenceChapter 5 EssentialismChapter 6 BirthChapter 7 FeminismBibliographyIndex