Feminist Political Theory

Valerie Bryson is Emerita Professor of Politics at Huddersfield University. In addition to the influential Feminist Political Theory, her publications include Feminist Debates: Issues of Theory and Political Practice.

"The harmonious combination of theoretical argumentation and historical data makes the book very rigorous and, therefore, extremely persuasive. I would recommend this book without hesitation to all my students, and to anyone curious about the history of feminist thought." - Dr Mihaela Mihai, Senior Research Fellow, School of Social and Political Science, University of Edinburgh (UK). "Valerie Bryson's Feminist Political Theory was the first feminist theory book I ever read - and I still have it on my shelf. Her third edition offers a highly engaging introduction for the new student of feminism, and for a new generation of feminist activists. It critically foregrounds the politics of feminist ideas, and maintains throughout a heartfelt and optimistic commitment to the importance of feminism to the achievement of gender equality." - Professor Sarah Childs, Professor of Politics and Gender, University of Bristol (UK).

• IntroductionA (Partial) History of Feminist Political TheoryDifferent Kinds of FeminismFeminist Political Theory Past and PresentPART I: EARLY FEMINIST THOUGHTSeventeenth century feminism in Continental Europe and BritainEarly British feminism and the ideas of Mary AstellThe Enlightenment and early liberal feminismMary Wollstonecraft's Vindication of the Rights of WomanThe utopian socialists and feminismWheeler and Thompson's Appeal On Behalf of WomenPART II: LIBERALISM AND BEYOND: MAINSTREAM FEMINISM IN THE NINETEENTH CENTURYFeminism in the United States: Maria Stewart and Elizabeth Cady StantonEvangelical Christianity and the Temperance and Anti-slavery MovementsThe Seneca Falls ConventionThe Analysis of Sexual and Personal OppressionEducation, Religion and the Woman's BibleClass, Race and RacismStanton's FeminismFeminism in Britain and Mill's The Subjection of WomenThe Spread of Feminist IdeasJohn Stuart Mill's The Subjection of WomenPART III:THE CONTRIBUTION OF MARX AND ENGELSClassic Marxist theory Engels' The Origin of the Family, Private Property and the StateFeminist criticisms of EngelsMarxism as a (Problematic) Feminist ResourceProduction and ReproductionIdeology and AlienationThe Limitations of Political and Legal ReformPART IV: THE VOTE AND AFTER: MAINSTREAM FEMINISM IN THE UNITED STATES AND BRITAIN FROMTHE LATE NINETEENTH CENTURY TO THE SECOND WORLD WARThe Situation of Women in the Late Nineteenth CenturyThe Suffrage CampaignEquality or Difference?Anti-democratic and Racist Strands in the Suffrage CampaignSocialism, Black Feminism and the Suffrage CampaignChristabel PankhurstAfter the Vote: the Re-emergence of ContradictionsEqual Rights v. Welfare Feminism in the United StatesEqual Rights v. Welfare Feminism in BritainBirth ControlBeyond Equality v. WelfarePART V:LEFTWING FEMINISM IN BRITAIN AND THE UNITED STATESBritain Sylvia PankhurstThe United States Charlotte Perkins GilmanEmma Goldman's Anarchist FeminismAmerican Communism and Women, White and BlackPART VI: MARXIST FEMINISM IN GERMANY AND RUSSIAMarxist Feminism in GermanyBebel's Woman Under Socialism Clara ZetkinMarxist Feminism in RussiaEarly Russian FeminismOrthodox Marxist Feminism in RussiaThe Ideas of Alexandra KollantaiPART VII: FEMINISM AFTER THE SECOND WORLD WARThe Situation of Western Women in the Mid-twentieth CenturyCommunism and Developments in Black FeminismSimone de Beauvoir and The Second SexExistentialism Applied to WomenFeminist Responses to The Second SexDe Beauvoir's Life and InfluencePART VIII: LIBERALISM AND BEYOND: FEMINISM AND EQUAL RIGHTS FROM THE 1960sBetty Friedan and the Politics of NOWSubsequent DevelopmentsFrom 'Backlash' to 'Power Feminism'Susan Okin and a Feminist Theory of JusticeEqual Rights Feminism: Critical Analysis and DebateEqualityThe State, Capitalism and MenThe Public/Private DistinctionIndividualism and Individual RightsReason, Knowledge and Ethical ThoughtFeminism, Equal Rights and Liberalism by the End of the Twentieth CenturyPART IX: RADICAL FEMINISM AND THE CONCEPT OF PATRIARCHYThe Origins of Radical FeminismKate Millett and the Theory of PatriarchyCriticisms of the Concept of PatriarchyPolitics and Personal LifeA Merely Descriptive Approach?An Over-generalised and a-historical Account?Women Good, Men Bad: an Essentialist View of Sex Difference?The Concept of Patriarchy by the End of the Twentieth CenturyPART X: RADICAL FEMINISM: PATRIARCHY IN PRIVATE AND PUBLIC LIFEPatriarchy and the FamilyPsychoanalytic Theory: Parenting and the Acquisition of Sexual IdentityDomestic LabourDomestic Violence and Emotional ExploitationPatriarchy, Sexuality and Sexual ViolenceThe Attack on HeterosexualitySexual Violence and PornographyPatriarchy and ReproductionReproductive TechnologyMothering and Eco-feminismPatriarchy and the StatePatriarchy and the Economic SystemPatriarchy, 'man-made language' and KnowledgeConclusions: the Impact of Radical FeminismPART XI: MARXIST AND SOCIALIST FEMINISM FROM THE 1960sPolitical and Ideological ContextThe Domestic Labour DebateWomen and the Labour MarketTwo Systems or One? 'Dual systems' v. 'capitalist patriarchy'The Material Basis RevisitedAlienationFeminist Standpoint TheoryIdeology, the Family and 'structures of oppression'The 'cultural turn'Socialist Feminist StrategiesSocialist and Marxist Feminism by the End of the Twentieth CenturyPART XII: THEORETICAL DEVELOPMENTS: POSTMODERN FEMINISMS AND BEYOND12. Theoretical Developments: Postmodern Feminisms and BeyondPostmodernism: Knowledge, Language, Power and Identity'French feminism' Judith ButlerGender, Sex and PerformativityThe 'doer' Behind the 'deed'Queer TheoryFeminist Applications of Postmodern TheoryBeyond Equality v. Difference DebatesThe 'doing' and Undoing of Gender: Gender Roles, the State and PornographyFeminist Criticisms of PostmodernismPostmodern Feminism and Earlier Feminist ThoughtEmpty Gestures?An End to Feminist Politics?Postmodernism and Feminism: into the Twenty First CenturyPART XIII: THEORETICAL DEVELOPMENTS: POSTCOLONIAL FEMINISM, BLACK FEMINISM AND INTERSECTIONALITYPostcolonial FeminismWestern Feminist ResponsesBlack FeminismBetween Gender and Race: the Marginalisation of Black WomenBlack Women: from Margin to CentreIntersectionalityBlack Feminism: Critical DebatesTwenty-first Century Developments in Black Feminist ThoughtIntersectionalityDevelopments and DebatesConclusionsPART XIV: WESTERN FEMINIST THEORY IN THE TWENTY FIRST CENTURY: DEVELOPMENTS IN LIBERAL AND SOCIALIST THOUGHTLiberalism and Feminism: Theoretical DevelopmentsCare and the Human ConditionRights and CapabilitiesThe Limits of Toleration and the Nature of 'choice'Developments in Socialist and Marxist Feminist ThoughtCritiques of Global CapitalismCare and CapitalismPART XV: WESTERN FEMINISM IN THE TWENTYFIRST CENTURY: CONTINUITIES, CHALLENGES AND CHANGEThe Context of Twenty First Century FeminismCounting the WavesThe Third Wave: Everyone Welcome, Come as You Please!The Fourth Wave: Getting Angry AgainFeminists in CyberspaceCyberfeminismFeminism Goes OnlineCybersexism and Other ProblemsTransgender/Transsexual IssuesTerminology and HistoryFeminist ResponsesUnpacking the DebateImplications for Feminist PoliticsConclusions: Feminist Political Theory Today