ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The ideas developed here grew, in a topsy turvy way, out of an article I co-authored with Heidi Hartmann, entitled ‘‘The Rhetoric of Self-Interest: Ideology of Gender in Economic Theory,” presented at a conference memorably attended by Robert Coats, Arjo Klamer, Donald McCloskey, and Robert Solow, and published in the conference volume The Consequences of Economic Rhetoric in 1988.
I cannot accurately remember or adequately thank all those who have helped me over the last twenty years, but offer a brief chronology of gratitude that begins with institutional thanks.A generous fellowship from the French American Foundation that sent me to Paris in 1995—1996 offered me the opportunity to learn more about French history. Jean Heffer of the Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales served as a superb host and Linda Koike as logistical problem-solver par excellence. A five-year Fellowship from the McArthur Foundation in 1998 gave me the luxury of devoting time to the history of economic ideas. A position as visiting Adjunct Professor at the Social and Political Theory Program Research School of Social Sciences at Australian National University widened my disciplinary horizons. A fellowship at the Russell Sage Foundation in 2005—2006 helped me expand my ideas. A Samuel F. Conti Fellowship from my own institution, the University of Massachusetts Amherst, facilitated my final revisions.
My friendship with Anthony Waterman, to whom this book is dedicated, has proved one of the most rewarding aspects of this adventure. Despite strong disagreement with many of my specific arguments, Anthony consistently provided warm, supportive, detailed, and extremely knowledgeable feedback. His efforts improved my own intellectual capabilities, as well as the manuscript, in profound ways. Deirdre McCloskey also offered generous encouragement and assistance animated by her love of bourgeois virtues.
Thank you, friends, for strengthening my faith in the virtues of academic debate.The International Association for Feminist Economics (IAFFE) and its journal, Feminist Economics, created a rich new intellectual space for the development of my ideas. I greatly appreciate the largely anonymous efforts of members, officers, editors, and contributors. My close personal and professional relationships with feminist scholars Paula England and Julie Nelson informs everything I write. I’m grateful for their direct and indirect contributions to this final product. Robert Goodin of the Research School of Social Sciences at Australian National University also gave me invaluable feedback and encouragement.
I thank Robert Dimand, Evelyn Forget, and Janet Seiz for attending a meeting (along with Anthony Waterman) to discuss an earlier version of this manuscript in San Antonio, Texas in 2002. Conversations with Ulla Grapard and Edith Kuiper—as well as their pioneering work in the history of feminist economics, contributed to the development of my ideas. My friend and colleague in Economics at the University of Massachusetts, Carol Heim, gave me the benefit of her broad knowledge of economic history and careful attention to detail. My colleague in English at this university, Nicholas Bromell, offered many discerning comments and suggestions. Others who offered comments and criticisms on specific chapters include Elisabetta Addis, Gerald Friedman, Susan Himmelweit, and Wally Seccombe.
Over the last two years I have used this manuscript in a writing course on the History of Economic Thought, asking students for feedback on my work in return for mine on theirs. I hope we are all better writers as a result. Thanks to my students in Spring 2007: Dalyah Assil, Scott Babineau, John Barrington, Rick Bihrle, Alex Brotschi, Whitney Dorin, Charles Forsyth, Jacob Gordon, Daniel Kelly, Samir Khan, Nathan Kollett, Andrew Mackay, Mitchell Markowitz, Paul Piquette, Tomer Radbil, Michael Sullivan, and Nicholas Swaim. Thanks to those in Fall 2007: James Burbidge, Matthew Donalds, Matthew Greenstein, Sami Korna, Betty Mac, Ali McGuirk, Greg Michalopoulos, Sean Monroe, Michael Monsegur, Huy Nguyen, Matthew Radowicz, Mark Rovenskiy, Alexis Santiago, Christina Shuker, Zach Simmons, Matthew Spurlock, Thien Tran, Alex Weinstein, and Amanda Wong.
My editor at Oxford University Press, Sarah Caro, always responded smartly to my questions and concerns and nudged me in the right directions. The memory of my good friend Helen Smith, superb writer, editor, and independent intellectual, sustained my efforts. My husband Robert Dworak indulged many of my sins. Thanks to all.
While every effort was made to contact the copyright holders of material in this book, there are instances where we have been unable to do so. If the copyright holders contact the author or publisher we will be pleased to rectify any omission at the earliest opportunity.