Women's Studies on Its Own: A Next Wave Reader in Institutional Change

Next Wave: New Directions in Women's Studies

by Robyn Wiegman (Editor), Inderpal Grewal, Miranda Joseph (Contributor)

"We thought the study of women would be a temporary phase; eventually we would all go back to our disciplines."—Gloria Bowles, From the AfterwordSince the 1970s, Women's Studies has grown from a volunteerist political project to a full-scale academic enterprise. Women's Studies on Its Own assesses the present and future of the field, demonstrating how institutionalization has extended a vital, ongoing intellectual project for a new generation of scholars and students.

Women’s Studies on Its Own considers the history, pedagogy, and curricula of Women’s Studies programs, as well as the field’s relation to the managed university. Both theoretically and institutionally grounded, the essays examine the pedagogical implications of various divisions of knowledge—racial, sexual, disciplinary, geopolitical, and economic. They look at the institutional practices that challenge and enable Women’s Studies—including interdisciplinarity, governance, administration, faculty review, professionalism, corporatism, fiscal autonomy, and fiscal constraint. Whether thinking about issues of academic labor, the impact of postcolonialism on Women’s Studies curricula, or the relation between education and the state, the contributors bring insight and wit to their theoretical deliberations on the shape of a transforming field.

Contributors. Dale M. Bauer, Kathleen M. Blee, Gloria Bowles, Denise Cuthbert, Maryanne Dever, Anne Donadey, Laura Donaldson, Diane Elam, Susan Stanford Friedman, Judith Kegan Gardiner, Inderpal Grewal, Sneja Gunew, Miranda Joseph, Caren Kaplan, Rachel Lee, Devoney Looser, Jeanette McVicker, Minoo Moallem, Nancy A. Naples, Jane O. Newman, Lindsey Pollak, Jean C. Robinson, Sabina Sawhney, Jael Silliman, Sivagami Subbaraman, Robyn Warhol, Marcia Westkott, Robyn Wiegman, Bonnie Zimmerman

Genres: Feminism, Womens Studies

512 pages, Paperback

First published October 23, 2002

Reviews

[Jessica Zu · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a collection of articles by participants of a conference on women's studies. A reflection of the identity of women's studies and the vision for its future from all kinds of perspectives. I find it very helpful in understanding, questioning and providing my own perspective about women's studies. I also find some of the readings absolutely obscure, unreadable, maybe it's because my English is not good enough. But, at least, every author here tried to be honest and open about their own bias and perspectives, so it is easier to for me to gain more insight and find my own blindspots. For someone who enjoys women's studies, this is a good book to read. However, I am also aware that for many, women's studies is not worthy of academic pursue. But what can I say? To work in women's studies means to be under attack and on defensive all the time, at least for now and the foreseeable future :)

[Laura Sundstrom · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this compilation of essays because of the variety of viewpoints and topics covered. For some purposes, I really like these kinds of anthologies. It was great to see all of these essays on the role of Women’s Studies in the university/college and the impact that it has on students.

The essays are definitely academic. It’s not always an easy read. The essays are four categories: histories of the present; institutional pedagogies; in the shadow of capital; and critical classrooms. Some of my favorite essays were in the “critical classrooms” section because they covered some of the intersections of feminism and racism, classism, and other -isms, as well how women’s studies as a discipline approaches these issues.

For a further review:
http://adventuresofayoungfeminist.com...

[Devoney Looser · Rating 5 out of 5]

I contributed a chapter to this book, so this isn’t a disinterested review, but I’m really pleased to have been a part of a great collection! Editor Robyn Wiegman has given us a terrific book on an important subject.