Feminist Theory in Pursuit of the Public

'An exciting and provocative new book. This is a first-rate contribution to feminist and critical social theory.' - Drucilla K. Barker, Professor and Director of Women's and Gender Studies, University of South Carolina, USA

'A stunning achievement. This is a ground-breaking analysis of the complex, gendered relations between private and public domains as they have emerged in three stages: from the age of industrial labor, to the welfare state, to the current neoliberal agenda. Goodman demonstrates how the 're-privatization' of women's labor in global markets now serves as a justification for eliminating all forms of public regulation, oversight, and social justice. By refusing to collapse the distinction between private and public, Goodman develops a compelling new theory of a participatory public sphere revitalized by private autonomy and critique.' - David B. Downing, Professor of English and Director of the Graduate Programs in Literature and Criticism, Indiana University of Pennsylvania and editor of Works and Days