mcafee received a bachelor's degree in history from the university of texas at austin in 1986, and a master's degree in public policy from duke university in 1987. after receiving her initial degrees, before journeying in to academic philosophy, mcafee was an organizer and policy advocate in the washington d.c. area. she worked for public citizen's congress watch from 1987 to 1988, was the chairperson of the d.c. local of the national writers union from 1988 to 1989, and the vice president at large of the national writers union in 1990 and 1991. while working as a public interest activist in washington, d.c., mcafee began to worry that this work would be in vain if people were not really interested in nor capable of democratic self-government.