عنوان

Dilemmas of British and Italian feminist movements and critical social theory :

Number

TLets396820

Title Proper

Dilemmas of British and Italian feminist movements and critical social theory :

General Material Designation

[Thesis]

First Statement of Responsibility

Kingston, Stephen.

Title Proper by Another Author

reflexive critiques

Name of Publisher, Distributor, etc.

University of Birmingham

Date of Publication, Distribution, etc.

2002

Dissertation or thesis details and type of degree

Ph.D.

Body granting the degree

University of Birmingham

Text preceding or following the note

2002

Text of Note

In this thesis critical social theory is used to assess the historical status ofmodern feminist movements, the experience of which is used in turn to assess theusefulness of certain key concepts from critical social theory. In particular Habermas'concept of the ideal speech situation is used to determine how far feminist movementsfall into the tradition of earlier uni versalising social movements. This concept is usedboth to analyse the forms of the movements (their structures and practices) and theirsubstantive activity in the area of political demands.The ideal speech situation indicates that feminist movements were in a state ofpermanent tension between competing commitments, especially universalist andparticularist imperatives. This dual logic can be seen in the pursuit of a renegotiationof the publicI private divide. It can also be seen in the debates among feminists in theeducational context.In conclusion, it is suggested that feminist movements were both dependent onand undermined by the tension between universalism and particularism. However, theproblems raised by these movements give indications that the ideal speech situationmay prove inadequate as a normative guide, particularly owing to the problemsrelating to fertility explored by feminism.

Kingston, Stephen.

University of Birmingham

Electronic name

p

[Thesis]

276903

a

Y