In the first feminist critique of modern political theory, Okin shows how the failure to apply theories of justice to the family not only undermines our most cherished democratic values but has led to a major crisis over gender-related issues.

1. Introduction: justice and gender --- 2. The family: beyond justice? --- 3. Whose traditions? Which understandings? --- 4. Libertarianism: matriarchy, slavery, and dystopia --- 5. Justice as fairness: for whom? --- 6. Justice from sphere to sphere: challenging the public/domestic dichotomy --- 7. Vulnerability by marriage --- 8. Conclusion: toward a humanist justice.