Routledge International Encyclopedia of Women: Global Women's Issues and Knowledge - Hardcover

Kramarae, Cheris; Spender, Dale

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0415920884 ISBN 13: 9780415920889

Publisher: Routledge, 2000

Synopsis

For a full list of entries and contributors, sample entries, and more, visit the Routledge International Encyclopedia of Women website.

Featuring comprehensive global coverage of women's issues and concerns, from violence and sexuality to feminist theory, the Routledge International Encyclopedia of Women brings the field into the new millennium. In over 900 signed A-Z entries from US and Europe, Asia, the Americas, Oceania, and the Middle East, the women who pioneered the field from its inception collaborate with the new scholars who are shaping the future of women's studies to create the new standard work for anyone who needs information on women-related subjects.

About this title

From Booklist:

This alphabetically organized encyclopedia contains 900 articles relating to global women's issues and written by approximately 450 female subject experts with either university or professional affiliations. The authors are truly international, representing 70 different nations. Aiming to provide "an accessible, trustworthy resource not only for scholars, professionals, and activists, but for the general reader everywhere," the focus is on ideas and actions, excluding biographical articles as well as articles on specific countries, although some countries are examined as case studies (e.g., Aging: Japanese case study). A number of broad topics, such as development and education, are considered region by region (South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, Western Europe, etc.).

Entries such as Adolescence, Digital divide, Ecofeminism, Islam, Maternity leave, Quilting, Soap operas, Surgery, and War help demonstrate the set's broad scope. Articles take a survey approach to each topic and display both an international focus and a consistently feminist perspective. Given the relatively high number of contributors, the writing style, which is interesting enough to qualify this as a browsing book, is remarkably consistent entry to entry. The international focus is maintained throughout, yielding a unified, homogenous perspective on social, political, and artistic matters impacting women. Though a few topics are treated in a column or less, most run to three or four. Broad areas, for example, Literature (44 pages), merit extended consideration by region. The weighting of articles is appropriate, statistical tables are included when demographics are discussed, and the cross-referencing, given in small caps under the see also heading at the end of each entry (or each regional section in longer treatments), serves to extend coverage.

Following the cross-references, each article or major section includes a list of "References and Further Readings." These bibliographies, generally from four to ten works in length, are comprised of print works for the most part, though some entries do list Web sites. Each volume begins with an alphabetical listing of articles. Volume 1 follows this with a topical listing, sorting the articles into 13 categories ranging from "Arts and Literature" to "Politics and the State." The index at the end of volume four is thoroughly excellent, being both accurate and comprehensive, with major articles on a topic noted in bold type.

Routledge International Encyclopedia of Women is a must purchase for college and university libraries with women's studies programs and a sound addition to most public and academic libraries. Mary Ellen Quinn
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review:

"A substantial and broad encyclopedia... Offering contemporary coverage of considerable terrain in feminist scholarship and activism... The theoretical entries are thoughtful and carefully crafted... A remarkably comprehensive four volume set that attempts to embrace almost every issue and topic of concern to feminists."
-"NWSA Journal, Vol. 14 No 2
"Can be of great use to everyone from high school students to professors. The only problem I had with the set is that it is very tempting to keep on reading other entries once you finished the one you wanted. I suggest you urge your library to order it soon."
-"News for Women in Psychology, Summer 2001
"Unique in its international, interdisciplinary focus....very well written with excellent up-to-date bibliographies and cross references... The topics addressed are very useful and provide an excellent starting place for undergraduate and graduate research. Recommended for academic libraries supporting researchand women's studies."
-"College & Research Libraries, September 2001
"Long awaited by scholars and students in women's studies and related disciplines, this set stands as a unique and indispensable multidisciplinary reference work... Since the editors and contributors admirably accomplish their goal of providing a resource suitable for scholars, professionals, and activists as well as for general readers, libraries large and small, academic and public, will find this incomparable encyclopedia an essential acquisition and an invaluable resource."
-"Choice, July 2001
"Provides a thoughtful introduction to relevant issues, as well as being challenging and thought provoking. The intent of this set is scholarly...Cheris Kramarae and Dale Spender have successfully geared this work so it will have appeal to upper level high school students and the general reader. This encyclopedia is a strong buy for academic libraries supporting women's studies programs and aworthy purchase for larger public libraries."
-"Against the Grain, April 2001

About this edition

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 2000
• ISBN 10: 0415920884
• ISBN 13: 9780415920889
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 2050