Feminism's fandango with the state revisited: Reflections on Australia, feminism, education, and change

This article reflects on the achievements, involvements, and complexities o f feminism's involvement in education change in Australia over the past qua rter century. In doing so, it continues a discussion about feminist theory and its relationship to politics and contexts. The article argues that this has bean a period in which feminism has made a considerable impact on educ ation, but that these achievements and even the growing wealth of experienc es and sophistication of those working for such change have led to a more m urky situation. The argument attempts to account for the particular form of Australian feminist work (theorizing as well as other practices) and to id entify some of its consequences today. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All r ights reserved.