Maria Tamboukou links Foucauldian ideas to feminism and education. Its central argument is that the Foucauldian notion of 'technologies of the self' needs to be gendered and contextualized. This argument is pursued through a genealogical analysis of autobiographical texts of women educators in the UK at the turn of the nineteenth century. This is a new theoretical approach, since Foucault's work has proved to be of great interest to feminist scholars but as yet, his theories have only intermittently been used in educational feminist work.
'Genealogies are much written 'about' but seldom done. Maria Tamboukou's work is an exciting and innovative genealogy of women educators, full of insights into their lives. It is Foucauldian scholarship at its best, working both as a substantive history and as a guide to the genealogical method. Maria Tamboukou shows us what a genealogical history can look like and what it can do.' - Stephen J Ball, Karl Mannheim Professor of Sociology of Education, University of London, Institute of Education, UK
'...is entertaining, rigorous, and useful as a research exemplar'. - Sue Middleton, Gender and Education
'...is entertaining, rigorous, and useful as a research exemplar'. - Sue Middleton, Gender and Education