'Bodies are dangerous': using feminist genealogy as policy studies methodology

Abstract

Abstract This paper explores the implications of paying attention to the body, literally and figuratively, in policy analysis and policy theory. Building from recent critical, feminist and post-structural work in policy studies, it develops what is termed a feminist genealogy to aid in an analysis that not only identifies the policy problem and policy subject, but at the same time troubles the doing of policy analysis by putting the arena of policy studies under examination. Feminist genealogy also works to continually forefront the role of bodies in educational policy, theory and practice, yielding an embodied analysis that acknowledges and includes the messiness of body talk in policy studies. Utilizing educational policy surrounding teen pregnancy as an example, it traces how a feminist genealogy, by paying particular attention to discourses, bodies and power, yields an embodied analysis that is interruptive of what one thinks one knows about teen mothers and opens spaces for different questions to be asked.