Feminist Social Thought

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First published in 1998, this collection brings together key articles by prominent feminist thinkers, providing a sophisticated exploration of theoretical topics central to feminist social thought. It highlights significant concerns in contemporary feminist scholarship and the advancements made by feminist philosophers. The editor's introduction offers alternative pathways through the text, enabling instructors to tailor the reader to their specific courses and student interests. Each article includes a brief introduction that contextualizes it, emphasizing the main issues and conclusions, which aids students in navigating challenging theoretical concepts. Organized around seven topics—constructions of gender; theorizing diversity; figurations of women; subjectivity, agency, and feminist critique; social identity, solidarity, and political engagement; care and its critics; and women, equality, and justice—this collection represents a broad spectrum of feminist thinking. Students will engage with critical questions, including how gender norms are instilled and perpetuated, the relationships between gender and other social positions like race and class, the resources available for recognizing and resisting subordination, the goals of feminist politics, and the reconciliation of social and legal equality with difference.