The futures of feminism

In The futures of feminism Valerie Bryson makes the case for an inclusive form of socialist feminism that puts multiple disadvantaged women at its heart. She uses both established theories and new thinking to investigate contemporary issues, including the fierce disputes between some feminists and trans women and between neoliberal and socialist feminists. Bryson demystifies key feminist terms, including patriarchy and intersectionality, and shows their relevance for politics today. She argues throughout that the analysis of gender cannot be isolated from that of class or race, that patriarchy is inexorably entangled with capitalism and that the needs of most women will not be met in an economy based on the pursuit of profit. She also asserts the social, economic and human importance of the unpaid caring and domestic work that has been traditionally done by women and the need to redistribute this and value it properly. She concludes that there are grounds for optimism about a future that could be both more feminist and more socialist. Rigorous but accessible, The futures of feminism is suitable for sixth-form, undergraduate and postgraduate students. It will also appeal beyond academia, to all those interested in feminist politics and gender issues.