Questioning Theory: Is There a Gender of Theory in Archaeology?

This paper raises questions about the practice of theory in anthropological archaeology. Particular attention is given to questions surrounding the gender of theory: what genders are more heralded in the theoretical spotlights and how the subject position of doing theory is gendered. An analysis of...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of archaeological method and theory 2007-09, Vol.14 (3), p.285-310
Main Author: Conkey, Margaret W.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Archaeological methods
Archaeological paradigms
Archaeological theory
Archaeologists
Archaeology
Critical theory
Feminism
Feminist anthropology
Feminist theory
Gender
Gender identity
Gender studies
Men
Postprocessual archaeology
Practice
Theory
Women
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Summary:This paper raises questions about the practice of theory in anthropological archaeology. Particular attention is given to questions surrounding the gender of theory: what genders are more heralded in the theoretical spotlights and how the subject position of doing theory is gendered. An analysis of the contents of four Readers of Archaeological Theory shows the problematic selection and thus representation of women's theoretical contributions, including their effective ghettoization in gender and feminist archaeology. Insights from how feminists have been grappling with theory are considered, and archaeologists are urged to confront the ways in which "doing theory" is/is not valued and how it is differentially valued, and to discuss the place and uses of theory more explicitly and critically.
ISSN:1072-5369
1573-7764
DOI:10.1007/s10816-007-9039-z