Examining the wide range of feminist research methods, Shulamit Reinharz explains the relationship between feminism and methodology, and challenges... existing stereotypes.Concluding that there is no one correct feminist method, but rather a variety of perspectives, Reinharz argues that this diversity of methods has been of great value to feminist scholarship. With an extensive bibliography cataloguing the important work accomplished over the last two decades, Feminist Methods in Social Research is an essential resource for students of sociology and women's studies.

How is feminism changing the way women and men think, feel, and act? Virginia Held explores how feminist theory is changing contemporary views of moral... choice. She proposes a comprehensive philosophy of feminist ethics, arguing persuasively for reconceptualizations of the self; of relations between the self and others; and of images of birth and death, nurturing and violence. Held shows how social, political, and cultural institutions have traditionally been founded upon masculine ideals of morality. She then identifies a distinct feminist morality that moves beyond culturally embedded notions about motherhood and female emotionality. Examining the effects of this alternative moral and ethical system on changing social values, Held discusses its far-reaching implications for altering standards of freedom, democracy, equality, and personal development. Ultimately, she concludes, the culture of feminism could provide a fresh perspective on—even solutions to—contemporary social problems.Feminist Morality makes a vital contribution to the ongoing debate in feminist theory on the importance of motherhood. For philosophers and other readers outside feminist theory, it offers a feminist moral and social critique in clear and accessible terms.

Away from the public eye, but from within the structures of stable and efficient organizations, women's groups have established nongovernmental... organizations (NGOs) to pursue feminist agendas. Feminist Organizations and Social Transformation in Latin America constitutes one of the first detailed analyses of the political and educational work of these organizations. Focusing on NGOs in the Dominican Republic and Peru, the book presents three case studies of feminist work, showing the careful balance they must navigate among satisfying basic needs, promoting legislation to address profound gender asymmetries, and creating countercultures essential to the development of a gender-attenuated society. In documenting the work of feminist NGOs, Stromquist identifies the ways they provide nonformal education (outside the school system) and informal learning (through experiences and internal discussions) to produce new consciousness and assertive identities among women.

This collection of essays traces the evolution of feminist pedagogy over the past twenty years, exploring both its theoretical and its practical... dimensions.Feminist pedagogy is defined as a set of epistemological assumptions, teaching strategies, approaches to content, classroom practices, and teacher-student relationships grounded in feminist theory. To apply this philosophy in the classroom, the editors maintain that feminist scholars must critically engage in dialogue and reflection about both what and how they teach, as well as how who they are affects how they teach. In identifying the themes and tensions within the field and in questioning why feminist pedagogy is particularly challenging in some educational environments, these articles illustrate how and why feminist theory is practiced in all kinds of classrooms. In exploring feminist pedagogy in all its complexities, the contributors identify the practical applications of feminist theory in teaching practices, classroom dynamics, and student-teacher relationships. This volume will help readers develop theoretically grounded classroom practices informed by the advice and experience of fellow practitioners and feminist scholars.

As feminist scholarship has developed, it has become increasingly evident that the practice of feminist research is interdisciplinary. Yet there are... very few books that address the methodological and theoretical issues raised in doing feminist research from an interdisciplinary standpoint. Feminist Perspectives on Social Research addresses this need by focusing on the theory and research methods that feminist scholars use to study women and gender from the humanities and social and behavioral science perspectives. Paying attention to the important link between epistemology, methodology, and methods, the editors have chosen readings from a range of fields--including history, sociology, literature, and philosophy--that have proven to be most useful and accessible to their students. The book is divided into three sections. Each section begins with an original chapter, written by the editors, that discusses the overall theme and integrates the range of articles presented. Part One: Method, Methodology, Epistemology presents the theoretical ideas and arguments surrounding feminist research; it covers the contributions made by feminist research, the debates surrounding objectivity and positivism, and the question of whether or not there is 'a' feminist method. Part Two: Issues of Race, Class, Gender, and Sexuality explains why researchers must pay attention to the variety and plurality of women and women's experiences, both theoretically and practically. Part Three: Applications and Methods outlines a practical approach to feminist research. Each theoretical reading about a particular method (interviewing, focus groups, survey research, experimental research, field research, and oral history) is paired with research examples using that method. Feminist Perspectives on Social Research is ideal for courses in research methods, feminist methods, qualitative research methods, feminist theory, and women's studies. It is also an excellent companion volume to Sharlene Nagy Hesse-Biber and Patricia Leavy's Approaches to Qualitative Research (OUP, 2004).

Feminist Philosophies A-Z covers contemporary material in a number of feminist approaches. It illustrates the complexity, range and interconnectedness... of issues in feminist philosophy while making clear the relationship of feminist philosophy to the rest of philosophy as a discipline (epistemology, metaphysics, ethics, social philosophy and metaphysics). Entries are pithy, detailed, informative and are cross-referenced to guide the reader through the lively debates in feminism.This volume is an indispensable resource for philosophers, students, and Women's Studies faculties as well as anyone with an interest in feminist philosophy.

This anthology of 40 readings combines both an extensive discussion of the major problems confronting women with an in-depth analysis of the... alternative theoretical and practical means for resolving these issues. Covering a broad range of concerns, this book also proposes the means for addressing these concerns. It includes race-based critiques as a means of promoting a truly multicultural feminism. It also provides suggestions on further reading in each section. The second edition of Feminist Philosophy has been revised to include updated readings covering issues such as date rape , sexual harassment, and new reproductive technologies. Adds new sections on Cultural Feminism and Ecological Feminism as well as more accessible sections on Liberal Feminism and Marxist/Socialist Feminism. Incorporates a Cultural Invisibility section critiquing contemporary culture. Finally, addresses men's responses to feminism and related men's movements as a means of promoting gender-inclusive feminism. An essential resource for every reader interested in this perspective of the relationship between women and men.

This accessible and provocative collection of science fiction acquaints readers with cutting-edge gender controversies in moral and political... philosophy. By imagining future worlds that defy our most basic assumptions about sex and gender, freedom and equality, and ethical values, the anthology's authors not only challenge traditional standards of morality and justice, but create bold experiments for testing feminist hypotheses. Selections are grouped under four main themes. Part 1, 'Human Nature and Reality', concentrates on whether there is an intrinsic difference between males and females. Here the authors inspect opposing views on five related questions: What does it mean to be human? What are women and men really like? How significant is the reproductive difference? How do we define the concepts of 'woman' and 'nature'? Why is language important? Part 2, 'Dystopias: The Worst of All Possible Worlds', first portrays misogynistic societies uncomfortably familiar to the early 21st-century reader. Chilling stories of future possibilities follow, including worlds where women and men separate into armies to fight a literal war of the sexes. Part 3, 'Separatist Utopias: Worlds of Difference', assembles stories that scrutinize both the virtues and vices of separatism, in order to address the questions - Why should women want to separate from men? And what would and should these all-female worlds be like? In Part 4, 'Androgynous Utopias: Worlds of Equality', the authors create intriguing worlds that anticipate the consequences, good and bad, of perfect sexual equality in education, intelligence, capability, and reproduction. With selections from such noted writers as Margaret Atwood, Octavia Butler, Marion Zimmer Bradley, Karen Joy Fowler, Ursula K Le Guin, James Tiptree Jr, and many others, plus chapter introductions, discussion questions, and recommended reading list, this stimulating collection offers fresh insights on troubling issues by weaving controversial utopian and dystopian designs from the separate threads of opposing positions.

Feminism and postcolonialism are allies, and the impressive selection of writings brought together in this volume demonstrate how fruitful that... alliance can be. Reina Lewis and Sara Mills have assembled a brilliant selection of thinkers, organizing them into six categories: "Gendering Colonialism and Postcolonialism/Radicalizing Feminism," "Rethinking Whiteness," "Redefining the 'Third World' Subject," "Sexuality and Sexual Rights," "Harem and the Veil," and "Gender and Post/colonial Relations." A bibliography complements the wide-ranging essays. This is the ideal volume for any reader interested in the development of postcoloniality and feminist thought.

In this groundbreaking collection with its diverse perspectives, feminist thinkers explore whether Third World women ought to continue along the path of... development or abandon full-scale modernization and seek post-development alternatives instead. It represents the first attempt to ascertain the possibilities, and limitations, of the post-development path for women.

Feminist Practice and Poststructuralist Theory offers a clear and accessible introduction to poststructuralist theory, focusing on questions of... language, subjectivity and power.

This important text demonstrates how the feminist standpoints of knowing, connecting, caring, and diversity can help practitioners build communities... and solve problems. With the multiplicity of their experiences and the diversity of their ways of knowing, feminists develop strong personal and community relationships. Their practice can provide a context for caring, connecting, partnering, and community building that can move us to solutions for major problems. Feminist Practice in the 21st Century contains 18 chapters organized by methods, fields of practice, and special populations. From the feminization of poverty to the feminist perspective on politics, chapters set forth a feminist model in social work theory and practice. Educators, students, and practitioners will find the book a compelling resource. Special Features *Practice models that support women *Feminist management approaches *Suggestions on how to combat workplace discrimination *Case examples to illustrate applications of theory to practice.