Engendering DemocracyDemocracy is the central political issue of our age, yet debates over its nature and goals rarely engage with feminist concerns. Now that women have the right to vote, they are thought to present no special problems of their own. But despite the seemingly gender-neutral categories of individual or citizen, democratic theory and practice continues to privilege the male. This book reconsiders dominant strands in democratic thinking - focusing on liberal democracy, participatory democracy, and twentieth century versions of civic republicanism - and approaches these from a feminist perspective. Anne Phillips explores the under-representation of women in politics, the crucial relationship between public and private spheres, and the lessons of the contemporary women's movement as an experience in participatory democracy. |
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abortion abstract active alternative argued argument become Benjamin Barber C. B. Macpherson Carole Pateman cent challenge choice citizens claim concerns consensus consent considered context contrast critics critique debate decisions defined democratic developed discussion distinction between public division of labour dominant electoral Elshtain emphasis example experience feminism gender household idea ideals individual inequalities interests involvement issues Jane Mansbridge kind liberal democracy lives major male Mansbridge Maori Marxism matter means meeting Nordic countries notion organizations participation participatory democracy personal is political perspective political equality political parties political theory principle private spheres problem proportional representation public and private radical relationship between public representation of women representative democracy republican responsibility right to vote role seems sexual difference shared Sheldon Wolin social socialist substantial theorists thought universal woman women elected women’s groups women’s liberation movement women’s movement workplace workplace democracy