Consider the Hermaphroditic Mind: Comment on “The Interplay of Evidential Constraints and Political Interests: Recent Archaeological Research on Gender”

Abstract

Alison Wylie (1992) provides an important discussion about the contribution of feminist research in archaeology by arguing that a feminist perspective can lead to a better, more rigorous science of archaeology. Her article inspires comment in three areas. First, the diversity within feminist theory and practice is emphasized by describing liberal, separatist, and socialist perspectives and how they might manifest themselves in archaeology. Second, the historical and political context of gender ideology and metaphor in the development of Western science is noted. The apparent need for feminist theory to defend its appropriateness is tied to this context. Third, feminist theory must, and will, rehabilitate the structure of that historically and politically constituted science.