Theorizing Patriarchy

Sylvia Walby provides an overview of recent theoretical debates - Marxism, radical and liberal feminism, post-structuralism and dual systems theory. She shows how each can be applied to a range of substantive topics from paid work, housework and the state, to culture, sexuality and violence, relying on the most up-to-date empirical findings. Arguing that patriarchy has been vigorously adaptable to the changes in women's position, and that some of women's hard-won social gains have been transformed into new traps, Walby proposes a combination of class analysis with radical feminist theory to explain gender relations in terms of both patriarchal and capitalist structure. List of Tables and Figures.

1. Introduction.

2. Paid Work.

3. Household Production.

4. Culture.

5. Sexuality.

6. Violence.

7. State.

8. From Private to Public Patriarchy.

Footnotes.

Bibliography.

"Walby offers a powerful and stimulating demonstration of the centrality of patriarchy to social structure and historical analysis." Gillian Rose, Queen Mary College, London

"Sylvia Walby has undoubtedly broken the stalemate in theorizing about patriarchy." Mary Maynard, University of York

Sylvia Walby has been involved in developing Women's Studies courses nationally and in Europe, and is founding Director of Women's Studies Research Centre at Lancaster. She is the author of several books. Sylvia Walby provides an overview of recent theoretical debates - Marxism, radical and liberal feminism, post-structuralism and dual systems theory. She shows how each can be applied to a range of substantive topics from paid work, housework and the state, to culture, sexuality and violence, relying on the most up-to-date empirical findings. Arguing that patriarchy has been vigorously adaptable to the changes in women's position, and that some of women's hard-won social gains have been transformed into new traps, Walby proposes a combination of class analysis with radical feminist theory to explain gender relations in terms of both patriarchal and capitalist structure.