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Complex equality: beyond equality and difference?

Complex equality: beyond equality and difference?
Complex equality: beyond equality and difference?
Equality has become a highly controversial concept within feminism, not least because standard egalitarian accounts have been accused of neglecting both difference and also issues of real concern to feminists, such as the structure of the 'domestic' sphere, contexts of power, and responsibility for domestic work. Michael Walzer's theory of 'complex equality' promises a commitment to equality that deploys a much broader analytical focus, and yet is sensitive to difference. As such, it merits attention from feminists. In this article, I will begin to investigate the possibilities offered by this theory, by examining the positions it can generate on issues of domestic work and decision-making power. It will be my contention that Walzer's own position on these issues is a little abbreviated, but that a distinctive and worthwhile account can be developed merely by applying arguments he has advanced elsewhere.
division of labour, domestic work, egalitarianism, power, walzer
1464-7001
67-82
Armstrong, Chris
2fbfa0a3-9183-4562-9370-0f6441df90d2
Armstrong, Chris
2fbfa0a3-9183-4562-9370-0f6441df90d2

Armstrong, Chris (2002) Complex equality: beyond equality and difference? Feminist Theory, 3 (1), 67-82. (doi:10.1177/1460012002003001066).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Equality has become a highly controversial concept within feminism, not least because standard egalitarian accounts have been accused of neglecting both difference and also issues of real concern to feminists, such as the structure of the 'domestic' sphere, contexts of power, and responsibility for domestic work. Michael Walzer's theory of 'complex equality' promises a commitment to equality that deploys a much broader analytical focus, and yet is sensitive to difference. As such, it merits attention from feminists. In this article, I will begin to investigate the possibilities offered by this theory, by examining the positions it can generate on issues of domestic work and decision-making power. It will be my contention that Walzer's own position on these issues is a little abbreviated, but that a distinctive and worthwhile account can be developed merely by applying arguments he has advanced elsewhere.

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More information

Published date: 2002
Keywords: division of labour, domestic work, egalitarianism, power, walzer

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 34913
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/34913
ISSN: 1464-7001
PURE UUID: 12dab196-c47f-42af-a64d-6243682dda87
ORCID for Chris Armstrong: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-7462-5316

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 17 May 2006
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 03:47

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