The history of British feminist thought covered in a representative selection of essays on major themes by fluential feminists in the British tradition. It shows that feminist thought in Britain has a clear identity, arising from its particular political and social formations.

This book covers the history of British feminist thought in a representative selection of essays on major themes by influential feminists in the British tradition. It shows that feminist thought in Britain has a clear identity, arising from its particular political and social formations. This identity is usefully compared throughout with the American and European traditions of feminist thought.The book moves from a consideration of feminist history, through the unhappy marriage of Marxism and feminism, issues of race and class, psychoanalysis, the family and housework, to the peculiarly British phenomenon of feminist criticism and research existing within the context of cultural studies. The case of Northern Ireland as an issue within British feminist thought is given particular attention. Terry Lovell's introductions to each section put the essays in their British political and international intellectual context.

Acknowledgements. Part I: British Feminist Thought in the Second Wave: 1. The Ideal: Germaine Greer. Part II: Feminism and the Historians: 2. Women, Class and Sexual Differences in the 1830s and 1840s: Sally Alexander (Polytechnic of East London). 3. Private Persons Versus Public Someones: Class, Gender and Politics in England, 1780-1850: Catherine Hall (Polytechnic of East London). Part III: The Politics of Difference: Class, Race and Gender: 4. What is a Housewife?: Ann Oakley (Thomas Coram Research Institute, University of London). 5. The Material of Male Power: Cynthia Cockburn (City University, London). 6. Contextualizing Feminism - Gender, Ethnic and Class Divisions: Floya Anthias &
Nira Yuval-Davis (Thames Polytechnic, London). 7. Theories of Gender and Black Families: Ann Phoenix (Thomas Coram Research Unit, University of London). 8. The 'Family Wage': Some Problems for Socialists and Feminists: Michele Barrett and Mary McIntosh (City University, London and University of Essex). 9. Rethinking Women's Oppression: Johanna Brenner and Maria Ramas (Portland State University). 10. Armagh and Feminist Strategy: Christina Loughran (Teacher of History and Political Studies, Belfast Grammar School). Part IV: Psychoanalysis and Feminism:11. Femine Sexuality: Jacques Lacan and the Ecole Freudienne - Introduction: Juliet Mitchell (Writer and Lecturer in Literature, Women and Psychoanalysis). 12. Psychoanalysis: Psychic Law and Order: Elizabeth Wilson (Polytechnic of North London). 13. Femininity and its Discontent: Jacqueline Rose (University of Sussex). 14. Psychoanalysis: Women Loving Women: Joanna Ryan. 15. Family Affairs: Parveen Adams (Brunel University). Part V: Feminist Criticism and Cultural Studies:16. Stories: Carolyn Steedman (University of Warwick).17. Raymond Williams: Gender and Generation: Jenny Bourne Taylor (University of Sussex). 18. Naughty but Nice: Food Pornography: Rosalind Coward (Writer on Female Sexuality and Feminism). 19. 'She's Gotta Have It': The Representation of Black Female Sexuality on Film: Felly Nkweto Simmonds. 20. 'Returning to Manderley' - Romance Fiction, Female Sexuality and Class: Alison Light (University of Brighton). 21. Pandora's Box: Subjectivity, Class and Sexuality in Socialist Feminist Criticism: Cora Kaplan (Rutgers University). 22. Feminism and Postmodernism: Recent Feminist Criticism in the United States: Toril Moi. Notes on Authors. Index.