Child, Parent(s), and State: Thoughts toward a Feminist Reconceptualization.

Feminist and gay and lesbian theories of family have gone far in rethinking the role that family plays in society and positing new ways that the state should form and support families if it is to enhance, rather than restrict, equality. Despite this, in most discussions of family within both literatures, children receive little attention, unless it can be argued that they will be benefited as a result of better recognizing and supporting parental relationships. In this paper, I explore how feminist theory - and specifically, I draw from Maxine Eichner's critique and revisioning of Martha Fineman's work - might be extended in ways that recognize teens and youth not as potential people, but as people. I develop this argument with a specific group of young people in mind-queer youth. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]