Revisiting feminism and Australian education:Who speaks? What questions? What contexts? What impact?

Abstract

This article revisits the development of feminist research and policy in education in Australia in the mid-1970s to mid-1980s from the perspective of the present decade. The purpose is to give one insider's account of the specificities of that initial period, and to use that analysis to draw attention to changes evident in the context and agendas of work today, as well as to contribute to a broader reflection on the contribution and limitations of feminism's engagement with schooling theoretically and practically. The article discusses first the notable rapid growth and impact of feminist work in education in the Australian context, and some of the demographic and economic conditions that made this possible. Second, it analyses the focus of feminist work in that period and draws attention to some notable shifts of interest between that period and the present. More generally it considers the kinds of contributions and limitations of feminism to research and action on curriculum and schooling as a system, and to an interest in subjectivity within schooling.

Keywords:

• feminism
• curriculum
• subjectivity
• policy
• Australia