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

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Barbara J. Little
Barbara J. Little*
Affiliation:
National Park Service, National Capital Region, 1100 Ohio Drive, S.W., Washington, DC 20242
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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.

Resumen

Resumen

Alison Wylie (1992) presenta una importante discusión sobre la contribución de la investigación feminista a la arqueología al argüir que una perspectiva feminista puede conducir a una mejor y más rigurosa ciencia de la arqueología. Su artículo inspira comentarios en tres áreas. Primero, la diversidad dentro de la teoría y práctica feminista está enfatizada por la descripción de las perspectivas liberal, separatista y socialista, y cómo éstas podrían manifestarse en arqueología. Segundo, se menciona el contexto histórico y político de la ideología de género y la metáfora en el desarollo de la ciencia occidental. La necesidad aparente de una teoría feminista que defienda su idoneidad está ligada a este contexto. Tercero, la teoría feminista debe—y lo hará—reabilitar la estructura de aquella ciencia historicamente y politicamente constituida.

Type
Comments
Information
American Antiquity , Volume 59 , Issue 3 , July 1994 , pp. 539 - 544
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for American Archaeology 1994

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References

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