Sexual power: feminism and the family in America

Abstract

Since the early 1970s, scholars have argued, defined, and refined a wide range of interpretations of American women's lives. Despite the richness of the recent literature, few interpretations sufficiently credit women's and sexual experiences for the emergence of feminism and the construction of pro-family agendas. Thus, Johnston's approach offers an opportunity to view the history of feminism and the from a fresh perspective. Much of the literature on feminism has focused on women's oppression and victimisation, rather than on the power that women historically have exerted. Johnston's interpretation of American feminism differs from previous works because she argues that the gradual growth of feminist consciousness lies not simply in oppression or feelings of victimisation, but paradoxically in a growing sense of the empowerment of women as wives and mothers. She traces how reproduction, sexuality, domesticity, and motherhood have been socially constructed, and examines how feminists and anti-feminists have fought on the terrain of family issues. Johnston explores critical questions concerning American women's sexual lives. How have women's empowering experiences in the shaped feminist consciousness and action? How have feminists confronted issues? How have feminists confronted issues? How have women exerted sexual power? How was it contained within the limits of patriarchal society at some times, while at the other times it fuelled the fires of feminist rebellion? How have gender and class issues affected domestic politics and feminism?