The Future of Gender

'Gender' is used to classify humans and to explain their behaviour in predominantly social rather than biological terms. But how useful is the concept of gender in social analysis? To what degree does gender relate to sex? How does gender feature in shifts in familial structures and demography? How should gender be conceived in terms of contemporary inequality and injustice, and what is gender's function in the design and pursuit of political objectives? In this volume a collection of international experts from the fields of political philosophy, political theory, sociology, economics, law, psychoanalysis and evolutionary psychology scrutinize the conceptual effectiveness of gender both as a mode of analysis and as a basis for envisioning the transformation of society. Each contributor considers how gender might be conceived in contemporary terms, offering a variety of (often conflicting) interpretations of the concept's usefulness for the future.

Table of Contents:
Part I. Reorienting the Feminist Imagination: 1. Mapping the feminist imagination: from redistribution to recognition to representation Nancy Fraser; 2. Perspectives on gender equality: challenging the terms of debate Valerie Bryson; 3. When will society be gender just? Ingrid Robeyns; Part II. Variations on the Theme of 'Gender': 4. Does biology play any role in sex differences in the mind? Simon Baron-Cohen; 5. Sex and the social construction of gender: can feminism and evolutionary psychology be reconciled? Susan Hurley; 6. 'Trans' trouble: trans-sexuality and the end of gender Terrell Carver; 7. Gender and social change Tony Lawson; 8. Procreative mothers (sexual difference) and child-free sisters (gender) Juliet Mitchell; Part III. Gender and Political Practice: 9. The politics of female diversity in the 21st century Catherine Hakim; 10. Gender inequality and the gendered division of labour Rosemary Crompton; 11. The equal treatment principle and 'gender': theory and practice Jude Browne.

About the Author :
Jude Browne is a Nuffield Research Fellow at the Centre for Research in the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, an Executive Director of the Cambridge University Centre for Gender Studies and a Fellow in Social and Political Sciences at Downing College, University of Cambridge.

Review :
'The Future of Gender draws together eminent scholars from diverse academic disciplines to interrogate the conceptual efficacy of 'gender' - evaluating whether, and in what ways, 'gender' provides a useful category of analysis and a productive basis for an emancipatory politics. This is an original and stimulating collection with high quality essays that challenge existing orthodoxies, and one another, in interesting and provocative ways.' Judith Squires, Professor of Political Theory, University of Bristol 'A brilliant, original collection of essays, which in their clashing and engaging viewpoints demonstrate that gender is right at the forefront of contemporary, intellectual debates.' Carol Gilligan, University Professor, New York University 'Jude Browne's engaging collection traces gender debates lucidly, highlighting some sharp current controversies, and presents scholarship on sex and gender of richness and range, moving toward intellectual reframing.' Catharine A. MacKinnon, Elizabeth A. Long Professor of Law, University of Michigan 'This volume offers a fascinating and often radical return to some fundamental questions concerning the ontology of the (gendered or trans-gendered) human, the structure of the family, the sexual division of labour and how best to legislate for gender equality. It marks a timely reopening of inquiries about gender, the sex/gender distinction and gender equality after the cultural and postmodern turn towards difference and in light of new developments in the natural sciences, technologies of the body, restructuring of the economy and events such as 9/11.' Diana Coole, Professor of Political and Social Theory, Birkbeck College University of London 'The Future of Gender underscores that feminist scholarship is composed of a range of divergent and oppositional arguments. Moreover, it suggests that the heterogeneity of the field is a boon, not a burden. The book's strength lies not in wholly new intellectual adventures, but in the variety and richness of its contributions.' Law and Politics Book Review