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Women's Lives: Multicultural Perspectives
This interdisciplinary, multicultural text-reader provides an introduction to women's studies by examining U.S. women's lives in a global context and across categories of race-ethnicity, class, sexuality, disability, and age. Substantial chapter introductions provide updated statistical information and explanations of key concepts and ideas as a context for the readings. Each chapter includes "Questions to Frame Your Reading" and “Suggestions for Taking Action” to help students link their knowledge and understanding to their own lives and apply it to the world around them.
688 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 1997
6 people are currently reading
162 people want to read
About the author
Gwyn Kirk
6 books1 followerGwyn Kirk is a scholar-activist concerned with genuine security and a sustainable world. She has taught women’s and gender studies at US universities and colleges for 30 years. She publishes a textbook/anthology, Gendered Lives: Intersectional Perspectives, co-edited with Margo Okazawa-Rey, and has written widely on ecofeminism, militarism, and women’s peace organizing. She holds a PhD in sociology from the London School of Economics.
Gwyn Kirk is a founding member of the International Women’s Network Against Militarism, and Women for Genuine Security, the US-based group in that Network. She co-directed the 2012 documentary, Living Along the Fenceline, featuring grassroots women leaders from South Korea to Puerto Rico whose communities are affected by the U.S. military presence in their backyards. She has written scripts and designed outfits for Fashioning Resistance to Militarism, a popular education project.
Gwyn Kirk is a founding member of the International Women’s Network Against Militarism, and Women for Genuine Security, the US-based group in that Network. She co-directed the 2012 documentary, Living Along the Fenceline, featuring grassroots women leaders from South Korea to Puerto Rico whose communities are affected by the U.S. military presence in their backyards. She has written scripts and designed outfits for Fashioning Resistance to Militarism, a popular education project.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
April 13, 2021
4/13/21
Seeing as my class is done reading out of this book, I'm calling it read! While we didn't read everything, I did enjoy most of what we read for class. While some of the chapters were kind of outdated, it makes sense since this was published around 2012. It was great to be able to read some classic feminist pieces!
Seeing as my class is done reading out of this book, I'm calling it read! While we didn't read everything, I did enjoy most of what we read for class. While some of the chapters were kind of outdated, it makes sense since this was published around 2012. It was great to be able to read some classic feminist pieces!
December 12, 2013
Never been so excited to be done with a book! It's a great resource to use in a women's studies course unless you teacher assigns 20 million essays with each chapter then any book can loose its appeal!!!!!
December 8, 2009
Wonderful collection of thought provoking essays on feminism and gender.
August 11, 2011
Very good selections. I want to come back in the future and read the remaining essays that are in this book.
April 22, 2017
1-15-14 Currently reading for my college junior Intro to Contemporary Gender Issues class.
November 3, 2016
when I put in the right isbn here it brought up a no cover edition.
second edition c2001 $3.99 WorldCat has the right cover (had to be found by the author's listing) and has the following TOC:
Preface
Introduction: The Framework of This Book
The Focus of Women’s Studies
The Framework for this Book: Collective Action for a Sustainable Future
A Matrix of Oppression and Resistance
Feminisms: Tangling with the “F” Word
Scope of the Book
1. THEORIES AND THEORIZING: INTEGRATIVE FRAMEWORKS FOR UNDERSTANDING
Definition of Theory / Theory, Theorizing, and Ways of Knowing / Theoretical Perspectives in Women’s Studies / Charlotte Bunch, Not by Degrees: Feminist Theory and Education / Judith Lorber, The Social Construction of Gender / Allan Johnson, Patriarchy, the System: An It, Not a He, a Them, or an Us / Combahee River Collective, A Black Feminist Statement / Chandra Talpade Mohanty, Defining Genealogies: Feminist Reflections on Being South Asian in North America / Kalima Rose, Taking on the Global Economy
2. IDENTITIES AND SOCIAL LOCATIONS: WHO AM I? WHO ARE MY PEOPLE?
Being Myself: The Micro Level / Community Recognition, Expectations, and Interactions: The Meso Level / Social Categories, Classifications, and Structural Inequality: Macro and Global Levels / Multiple Identities, Social Location, and Contradictions / Frederica Y. Daly, Perspectives of Native American Women on Race and Gender / Dorothy Allison, A Question of Class / Elizabeth Martinez, A Word about the Great Terminology Question / Merle Woo, Letter to Ma / Joanna Kadi, Moving from Cultural Appropriation Toward Ethical Cultural Connections / Mary C. Waters, Optional Identities: For Whites Only? / Minnie Bruce Pratt, Who Am I If I’m Not My Father’s Daughter?
3. WOMEN’S BODIES
Body Image and the Beauty Ideal / Resisting Beauty Stereotypes / Feminist Theorizing about Body Image and Beauty Ideals / Body Politics / Abra Fortune Chernik, The Body Politic / Toni Morrison, The Coming of Maureen Peale / Judith Ortiz Cofer, The Story of My Body / Nellie Wong, When I Was Growing Up / Barbara Macdonald, Do You Remember Me? / Donna Walton, What’s a Leg Got To Do With It? / Alisa L.Valde;z, Ruminations of a Feminist Aerobics Instructor
4. WOMEN’S SEXUALITY
Stereotypes, Contradictions, and Double Standards / What is Women’s Autonomous Sexuality? / Challenging Binaries / Theorizing Sexuality / The Erotic as Power / Activism and Sexuality / Sandra Cisneros, Guadalupe the Sex Goddess / Eve Ensler, excerpt from The Vagina Monologues: Smell / Naomi Wolf, Radical Heterosexuality / Lisa Orlando, Loving Whom We Choose / Surina A. Khan, The All-American Queer Pakistani Girl / Leslie Feinberg, We Are All Works in Progress / Audre Lorde, Uses of the Erotic: The Erotic as Power
5. RELATIONSHIPS, FAMILIES, AND HOUSEHOLDS
Defining Ourselves Through Connections with Others / Theories about Personal Relationships: Living in Different Worlds? / The Ideal Nuclear Family / Feminist Perspectives on Marriage and the Family / Toward a Redefinition of Family Values / Miriam Ching Yoon Louie and Nguyen Louie, The Conversation Begins / Rachel Aber Schlesinger, Personal Reflections on Being a Grandmother: L’Chol Dor Va Dor / Andrea Canaan, Girlfriends / Stephanie Coontz, How Holding on to Tradition Sets Families Back / Leith Mullings, Households Headed by Women: The Politics of Race, Class, and Gender / Carol J. Gill and Larry A.Voss, Shattering Two Molds: Feminist Parents with Disabilities / Ann Filemyr, Loving Across the Boundary / Randy Albeda and Chris Tilly, Policies as if Families Really Mattered
6. VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
Dis-covering Violence against Women / The Incidence of Violence against Women / Explanations of Violence against Women / Ending Violence against Women / A War against Women? / Transforming a Rape Culture / Fernando Mederos, National Symposium on La Violencia Domestica: An Emerging Dialogue Among Latinos / Deanna L. Jang, Asian Immigrant Women Fight Domestic Violence / Grace Caroline Bridges, Lisa’s Ritual, Age 10 / Melba Wilson, Towards a Black Feminist Understanding of Child Sexual Abuse / Michael S. Kimmel, Clarence, William, Iron Mike, Tailhook, Senator Packwood, Spur Posse, Magic... and Us / Haki R. Madhubuti, On Becoming Anti-Rapist / Suzuyo Takazato, Sisters in Okinawa
7. LIVING IN A GLOBAL ECONOMY
The Global Factory / The Global Economy / Implications of Global Economic Inequalities / The Seeds of a New Global Economy / Mari;a Patricia Fernandez-Kelly, Maquiladoras: The View from the Inside / Cynthia Enloe, The Globetrotting Sneaker / Caribbean Association for Feminist Research and Action, The Debt Crisis: Who Really Owes Whom? / Grace Chang, The Global Trade in Filipina Workers / Saskia Sassen, Immigrants in a Global Economy / Leslie Marmon Silko, The Border Patrol State / Diverse Women for Diversity, Seattle Declaration
8. WORK, WAGES, AND WELFARE
Defining Women’s Work / Women in the U.S. Workforce / Pensions, Disability Payments, and Welfare / Feminist Approaches to Women’s Work and Income / Promoting Greater Economic Security for Women / Hattie Gossett, the cleaning woman/labor relations #4 / Teresa Amott and Julie Matthaei, The Transformation of Women’s Wage Work / He Works, She Works, But What Different Impressions They Make / Julianne Malveaux, Work, Worth, and Popular Culture / Shellee Colen, “With Respect and Feelings”: Voices of West Indian Child Care and Domestic Workers in New York City / Jeannine Ouellette Howitz, Reflections of a Feminist Mom / Erika Jones, Toward a More Perfect Union / Gwendolyn Mink, Feminists, Welfare Reform, and Welfare Justice
9. WOMEN’S HEALTH
Causes of Death for Women: Effects of Race and Class / Reproductive Health / Health and Aging / Mental and Emotional Health / Medical Care: Business as Usual? / Health As Wellness / Rita Arditti and Tatiana Schreiber, Breast Cancer: The Environmental Connection / Marsha Saxton, Reproductive Rights: A Disability Rights Issue / Joy Harjo, Three Generations of Native American Women’s Birth Experience / Eileen Nechas and Denise Foley, Fallen Women: Alcoholics and Drug Users / Iris Zavala-Martinez, En la Lucha: The Economic and Socioemotional Struggles of Puerto Rican Women / Annette Dula, The Life and Death of Miss Mildred: An Elderly Black Woman / Ann Polinger Haas, Lesbian Health Issues: An Overview / Sia Nowrojee and Jael Silliman, Asian Women’s Health: Organizing a Movement
10. WOMEN, CRIME, AND CRIMINALIZATION
The National Context: Get Tough on Crime / Women in the Criminal Justice System / Women Political Prisoners / Theories of Women and Crime / Equality with a Vengeance: Is Equal Treatment Fair Treatment?The Prison Industrial Complex / Inside/Outside Connections / Shannon Murray, Shannon’s Story / Nancy Kurshan, Behind the Walls: The History and Current Reality of Women’s Imprisonment / Dorothy E. Roberts, Punishing Drug Addicts Who Have Babies: Women of Color, Equality, and the Right of Privacy / Silvia Baraldini, Marilyn Buck, Susan Rosenberg, and Laura Whitehorn, Women’s Control Unit: Marianna, FL / Rita Takahashi, U.S. Concentration Camps and Exclusion Policies: Impact on Japanese American Women / Wendy A. Young, Three Chinese Women in Search of Asylum Held in U.S. Prisons
11. WOMEN AND THE MILITARY
The Need for Women in the Military / The Military As Employer / Limitations to Women’s Equal Participation in the Military / Military Wives / The Impact of the U.S. Military on Women Overseas / Women’s Opposition to the Military / Melinda Smith-Wells, The Women in Blue / Jean Grossholtz, The Search for Peace and Justice: Notes Toward an Autobiography / Alma Bulawan and the Women of BUKLOD, What Are the Alternatives to a Military Base? / Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, Women’s Budget / Women’s Pentagon Action, Unity Statement / Sonia Sanchez, Reflection After the June 12th March for Disarmament
12. WOMEN AND THE ENVIRONMENT
Theoretical and Activist Perspectives / Connectedness and Sustainability / Karen Warren, Taking Empirical Data Seriously: An Ecofeminist Philosophical Perspective / Starhawk, Power, Authority, and Mystery: Ecofeminism and Earth-Based Spirituality / Bouapha Toummaly, Asians and Pacific Islanders in the Environment / Mililani Trask, Native Hawaiian Historical and Cultural Perspectives on Environmental Justice / Mary Pardo, Mexican American Women Grassroots Community Activists: ‘Mothers of East Los Angeles’ / The First National People of Color Environmental Leadership Summit, Principles of Environmental Justice / H. Patricia Hynes, Consumption: North American Perspectives
13. CREATING CHANGE: THEORY, VISION, AND ACTION
Using the Head: Theories for Social Change / Using the Heart: Visions for Social Change / Using the Hands: Action for Social Change / Women and Politics / Building Alliances for Social Change / Creating a Secure and Sustainable World / Margaret Andersen, Women, Power, and Politics / Barbara Omolade, Ella’s Daughters / Barbara Macdonald, An Open Letter to the Women’s Movement (excerpt) / Gloria Yamato, Something About the Subject Makes it Hard to Name / Melanie Kaye/Kantrowitz, Jews, Class, Color, and the Cost of Whiteness / Suzanne Pharr, Multi-Issue Politics / Cynthia Cohen, Common Threads: Life Stories and the Arts in Educating for Social Change / Elizabeth Wilson-Compton, The Anti-Violence Coalition of Kentucky: An Experience in Alliance-Building
Glossary
References
Credits
second edition c2001 $3.99 WorldCat has the right cover (had to be found by the author's listing) and has the following TOC:
Preface
Introduction: The Framework of This Book
The Focus of Women’s Studies
The Framework for this Book: Collective Action for a Sustainable Future
A Matrix of Oppression and Resistance
Feminisms: Tangling with the “F” Word
Scope of the Book
1. THEORIES AND THEORIZING: INTEGRATIVE FRAMEWORKS FOR UNDERSTANDING
Definition of Theory / Theory, Theorizing, and Ways of Knowing / Theoretical Perspectives in Women’s Studies / Charlotte Bunch, Not by Degrees: Feminist Theory and Education / Judith Lorber, The Social Construction of Gender / Allan Johnson, Patriarchy, the System: An It, Not a He, a Them, or an Us / Combahee River Collective, A Black Feminist Statement / Chandra Talpade Mohanty, Defining Genealogies: Feminist Reflections on Being South Asian in North America / Kalima Rose, Taking on the Global Economy
2. IDENTITIES AND SOCIAL LOCATIONS: WHO AM I? WHO ARE MY PEOPLE?
Being Myself: The Micro Level / Community Recognition, Expectations, and Interactions: The Meso Level / Social Categories, Classifications, and Structural Inequality: Macro and Global Levels / Multiple Identities, Social Location, and Contradictions / Frederica Y. Daly, Perspectives of Native American Women on Race and Gender / Dorothy Allison, A Question of Class / Elizabeth Martinez, A Word about the Great Terminology Question / Merle Woo, Letter to Ma / Joanna Kadi, Moving from Cultural Appropriation Toward Ethical Cultural Connections / Mary C. Waters, Optional Identities: For Whites Only? / Minnie Bruce Pratt, Who Am I If I’m Not My Father’s Daughter?
3. WOMEN’S BODIES
Body Image and the Beauty Ideal / Resisting Beauty Stereotypes / Feminist Theorizing about Body Image and Beauty Ideals / Body Politics / Abra Fortune Chernik, The Body Politic / Toni Morrison, The Coming of Maureen Peale / Judith Ortiz Cofer, The Story of My Body / Nellie Wong, When I Was Growing Up / Barbara Macdonald, Do You Remember Me? / Donna Walton, What’s a Leg Got To Do With It? / Alisa L.Valde;z, Ruminations of a Feminist Aerobics Instructor
4. WOMEN’S SEXUALITY
Stereotypes, Contradictions, and Double Standards / What is Women’s Autonomous Sexuality? / Challenging Binaries / Theorizing Sexuality / The Erotic as Power / Activism and Sexuality / Sandra Cisneros, Guadalupe the Sex Goddess / Eve Ensler, excerpt from The Vagina Monologues: Smell / Naomi Wolf, Radical Heterosexuality / Lisa Orlando, Loving Whom We Choose / Surina A. Khan, The All-American Queer Pakistani Girl / Leslie Feinberg, We Are All Works in Progress / Audre Lorde, Uses of the Erotic: The Erotic as Power
5. RELATIONSHIPS, FAMILIES, AND HOUSEHOLDS
Defining Ourselves Through Connections with Others / Theories about Personal Relationships: Living in Different Worlds? / The Ideal Nuclear Family / Feminist Perspectives on Marriage and the Family / Toward a Redefinition of Family Values / Miriam Ching Yoon Louie and Nguyen Louie, The Conversation Begins / Rachel Aber Schlesinger, Personal Reflections on Being a Grandmother: L’Chol Dor Va Dor / Andrea Canaan, Girlfriends / Stephanie Coontz, How Holding on to Tradition Sets Families Back / Leith Mullings, Households Headed by Women: The Politics of Race, Class, and Gender / Carol J. Gill and Larry A.Voss, Shattering Two Molds: Feminist Parents with Disabilities / Ann Filemyr, Loving Across the Boundary / Randy Albeda and Chris Tilly, Policies as if Families Really Mattered
6. VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
Dis-covering Violence against Women / The Incidence of Violence against Women / Explanations of Violence against Women / Ending Violence against Women / A War against Women? / Transforming a Rape Culture / Fernando Mederos, National Symposium on La Violencia Domestica: An Emerging Dialogue Among Latinos / Deanna L. Jang, Asian Immigrant Women Fight Domestic Violence / Grace Caroline Bridges, Lisa’s Ritual, Age 10 / Melba Wilson, Towards a Black Feminist Understanding of Child Sexual Abuse / Michael S. Kimmel, Clarence, William, Iron Mike, Tailhook, Senator Packwood, Spur Posse, Magic... and Us / Haki R. Madhubuti, On Becoming Anti-Rapist / Suzuyo Takazato, Sisters in Okinawa
7. LIVING IN A GLOBAL ECONOMY
The Global Factory / The Global Economy / Implications of Global Economic Inequalities / The Seeds of a New Global Economy / Mari;a Patricia Fernandez-Kelly, Maquiladoras: The View from the Inside / Cynthia Enloe, The Globetrotting Sneaker / Caribbean Association for Feminist Research and Action, The Debt Crisis: Who Really Owes Whom? / Grace Chang, The Global Trade in Filipina Workers / Saskia Sassen, Immigrants in a Global Economy / Leslie Marmon Silko, The Border Patrol State / Diverse Women for Diversity, Seattle Declaration
8. WORK, WAGES, AND WELFARE
Defining Women’s Work / Women in the U.S. Workforce / Pensions, Disability Payments, and Welfare / Feminist Approaches to Women’s Work and Income / Promoting Greater Economic Security for Women / Hattie Gossett, the cleaning woman/labor relations #4 / Teresa Amott and Julie Matthaei, The Transformation of Women’s Wage Work / He Works, She Works, But What Different Impressions They Make / Julianne Malveaux, Work, Worth, and Popular Culture / Shellee Colen, “With Respect and Feelings”: Voices of West Indian Child Care and Domestic Workers in New York City / Jeannine Ouellette Howitz, Reflections of a Feminist Mom / Erika Jones, Toward a More Perfect Union / Gwendolyn Mink, Feminists, Welfare Reform, and Welfare Justice
9. WOMEN’S HEALTH
Causes of Death for Women: Effects of Race and Class / Reproductive Health / Health and Aging / Mental and Emotional Health / Medical Care: Business as Usual? / Health As Wellness / Rita Arditti and Tatiana Schreiber, Breast Cancer: The Environmental Connection / Marsha Saxton, Reproductive Rights: A Disability Rights Issue / Joy Harjo, Three Generations of Native American Women’s Birth Experience / Eileen Nechas and Denise Foley, Fallen Women: Alcoholics and Drug Users / Iris Zavala-Martinez, En la Lucha: The Economic and Socioemotional Struggles of Puerto Rican Women / Annette Dula, The Life and Death of Miss Mildred: An Elderly Black Woman / Ann Polinger Haas, Lesbian Health Issues: An Overview / Sia Nowrojee and Jael Silliman, Asian Women’s Health: Organizing a Movement
10. WOMEN, CRIME, AND CRIMINALIZATION
The National Context: Get Tough on Crime / Women in the Criminal Justice System / Women Political Prisoners / Theories of Women and Crime / Equality with a Vengeance: Is Equal Treatment Fair Treatment?The Prison Industrial Complex / Inside/Outside Connections / Shannon Murray, Shannon’s Story / Nancy Kurshan, Behind the Walls: The History and Current Reality of Women’s Imprisonment / Dorothy E. Roberts, Punishing Drug Addicts Who Have Babies: Women of Color, Equality, and the Right of Privacy / Silvia Baraldini, Marilyn Buck, Susan Rosenberg, and Laura Whitehorn, Women’s Control Unit: Marianna, FL / Rita Takahashi, U.S. Concentration Camps and Exclusion Policies: Impact on Japanese American Women / Wendy A. Young, Three Chinese Women in Search of Asylum Held in U.S. Prisons
11. WOMEN AND THE MILITARY
The Need for Women in the Military / The Military As Employer / Limitations to Women’s Equal Participation in the Military / Military Wives / The Impact of the U.S. Military on Women Overseas / Women’s Opposition to the Military / Melinda Smith-Wells, The Women in Blue / Jean Grossholtz, The Search for Peace and Justice: Notes Toward an Autobiography / Alma Bulawan and the Women of BUKLOD, What Are the Alternatives to a Military Base? / Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, Women’s Budget / Women’s Pentagon Action, Unity Statement / Sonia Sanchez, Reflection After the June 12th March for Disarmament
12. WOMEN AND THE ENVIRONMENT
Theoretical and Activist Perspectives / Connectedness and Sustainability / Karen Warren, Taking Empirical Data Seriously: An Ecofeminist Philosophical Perspective / Starhawk, Power, Authority, and Mystery: Ecofeminism and Earth-Based Spirituality / Bouapha Toummaly, Asians and Pacific Islanders in the Environment / Mililani Trask, Native Hawaiian Historical and Cultural Perspectives on Environmental Justice / Mary Pardo, Mexican American Women Grassroots Community Activists: ‘Mothers of East Los Angeles’ / The First National People of Color Environmental Leadership Summit, Principles of Environmental Justice / H. Patricia Hynes, Consumption: North American Perspectives
13. CREATING CHANGE: THEORY, VISION, AND ACTION
Using the Head: Theories for Social Change / Using the Heart: Visions for Social Change / Using the Hands: Action for Social Change / Women and Politics / Building Alliances for Social Change / Creating a Secure and Sustainable World / Margaret Andersen, Women, Power, and Politics / Barbara Omolade, Ella’s Daughters / Barbara Macdonald, An Open Letter to the Women’s Movement (excerpt) / Gloria Yamato, Something About the Subject Makes it Hard to Name / Melanie Kaye/Kantrowitz, Jews, Class, Color, and the Cost of Whiteness / Suzanne Pharr, Multi-Issue Politics / Cynthia Cohen, Common Threads: Life Stories and the Arts in Educating for Social Change / Elizabeth Wilson-Compton, The Anti-Violence Coalition of Kentucky: An Experience in Alliance-Building
Glossary
References
Credits
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 4, 2019
By far one of the most interesting and easy to read course text books I have read. Very informative and inclusive.
May 17, 2010
It's a compilation of writings organized into themes in women's studies. I did not find them all that inspiring, they were just okay. Unfortunately I found most of the pieces to be tedious and boring.
August 15, 2007
a good reference book for students of women's and gender studies.
Read
January 7, 2008again, school books
April 11, 2014
Solid textbook for women's studies inludes intros to critical theory, but really you should take a separate course to augment women's studies/feminism, and learn that separately.
September 12, 2020
WSM 101 didn’t make me a WGS major but that 10 hour conference Dr. Abigail planned certainly did
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews