On the Concept of Social Inclusion. A Proposal from Feminist Theory for the Study of Public Policies

Abstract

The paper proposes a conceptual model for the study of public policies as suggested by feminist theory. I present a theoretical reflection about notions of social inclusion and exclusion, inspired in feminist criticisms of the ethical universalism, feminist theory of intersectionality, coloniality of gender, a concept developed by decolonial feminism, and contributions about social justice of Nancy Fraser and Iris Marion Young. The purpose is to generate conceptual inputs to conceive public policies that respond satisfactorily to social contexts, in which a diversity of subjects and groups demanding recognition emerges. Beginning with this discussion, I expose a conceptual model which proposes to observe three elements that are interesting to the analysis of normativity that guide the representations of problems and solutions in policy making: the normative referent or moral principles that guide/s public policies; the vision of society and the notion of social change that underlies political discourse; and the conception of subject alleged by policies.