Symmetry in Feminist Economics

This paper takes the strains of symmetry as the starting point for an exploration of different stages in feminist economics. The first stage involves symmetry among men and women. The second stage concerns the breaking down of the privileged position of male economists over female ones. The third stage moves to the level of male and female analysts of economics. The paper connects these stages with efforts to establish symmetry in economics in general and macroeconomics in particular. These endeavors encounter serious obstacles that may be removed with the help of feminist economics. Therefore, the paper argues, there are not only ontological and epistemological reasons for seeking symmetry, but also strategic and political ones.