ABSTRACT
The aim of this chapter is to contribute to the further development of state theory through suggesting a way of theorising the relation between the modern state and gendered subjection. Hence, I will concentrate on the theoretical and conceptional level and argue that referring to Gramsci can be instructive. It is obvious that because of this aim I will go beyond Gramsci’s suggestion to grasp hegemony as necessarily class-led. Like other feminist theorists who refer to Gramsci’s work my underlying assumption is that hegemony describes a speFL¿FZD\RIH[HUFLVLQJSRZHUZKLFKGRHVQRWKDYHWREHUHGXFHGWRFODVVUHODtions. It can also be applied in order to understand how gender relations are governed. Hence, I will argue in a way similar to Stuart Hall in his essay (Hall, 1986) about the relevance of Gramsci for the study of race and ethnicity. Hall argues that even though Gramsci has not explicitly written about racism, his key notions still can be helpful for an analysis of racism. But then paradoxically the Gramscian notions have to be developed further. This is also true for Gramsci’s relevance for feminist state theory.
