Women's studies encyclopedia

This second volume of the "Women's Studies Encyclopaedia" emphasizes women's role as producers of literature, art, and music. There are also articles on other aspects of women's relationships to writing and the fine arts and on women's education. Although the primary focus is on the United States and on literature in English, greater attention is given both to other Western and to non-Western women than was possible in the first volume of the "encyclopaedia". Most of the articles present the results of current research on a topic with, in many cases, a short bibliography following the article. In those cases where the current state of research on the topic, or the nature of the topic itself warrants it, the articles themselves are mainly bibliographic. The predominance of articles about literature reflects both the greater participation by women in literature than in other arts and the greater concentration of feminist scholarship in this area. The volume is completed by a general bibliography and index.

In this third volume of the "Women's Studies Encyclopedia", Helen Tierney has brought together a wide range of articles that focus on women's roles, activities and status in past and present society. Selected topics in history, religion and philosophy are addressed by specialists in the various fields, and receive coverage of unusual depth. In addition, although the focus is on the United States and Western society, special attention is paid to women of India, China, and Japan, as well as those in Africa and other cultures. As with the previous volumes, Tierney's collection offers a wide variety of feminist approaches. The topics covered provide a representative sampling of women's roles in history, philosophy, and religion and examine a diverse range of periods, countries, and areas. Most of the articles run from 1000 to 1500 words, and many include a short bibliography to supplement the general bibliography that concludes the work. Encompassing everything from classic statements of feminist philosophy to the most recent research in women's studies, this book offers a wide range of viewpoints and easy access to a collection of topics that are normally dispersed. It is a continuation of the "Women's Studies Encyclopedia" and should be a valuable reference tool for courses in women's studies, history, comparative religion and philosophy.