Interpreting a text

1.5.4 Feminist Interpretation 
This approach puts gender as the focal point of analysis and uses that vantage 
point to look at political theory. The essence of this approach is reflected in 
Susan Okin’s statement, “the great tradition of political philosophy consists…of 
writings by men, for men, and about men”. This gap has pushed for feminist re-
readings and reappraisals of the classic works. The first phase of this approach 
began in the 1960’s. Works of Mary Wollstonecraft, Emma Goldman, Bentham, 
Mill and Engels were singled out for their attention and homage to gender 
question. A second, more radical, phase followed which sought to expose the 
misogyny in the works of the greats of political theory including the ones who 
had in the first phase been venerated. For example Carole Pateman highlighted in 
her work 
The Sexual Contract
how the social contract was a fraternal contract 
and the welfare state was a patriarchal institution. The third phase criticised the 
essentialised civic virtues of men — hunger for power, competitiveness, 
rationality. It turned the public/private distinction on its head and declared the 
superiority of the private realm of the family to the public realm of politics. 
Feminist interpretations have been dominated by upper class, white-skinned and 
educated women. To bring forth the voice of different women (as the category of 
women is not monolithic) is a challenge for this school of interpretation.
1.5.5 Straussian Interpretation 
This approach originates from the work of Leo Strauss who tried to locate the 
eternal truth of politics in the works of Plato and other ancient and pre-liberal era 
thinkers. These ‘rigourous’ works were contrasted with the ‘lenient’ works of 
modern liberal thinkers. Strauss lamented the weakening of normative 

---

20