Pamela Cotterill – författare

Power relationships between men and women have been discussed extensively in feminist literature, but power relationships between women the significance of in-law relationships between women has largely been overlooked. There is very little positive imagery surrounding the role of the mother-in-law.; Why do myths about "interfering" mothers-in-law predominate? Why are mother-in-law relationships seen as fraught with conflict and not expected to go well? What gives rise to these ideas, how are they maintained and how do they effect family life?; "Friendly Relations?" examines the popular imagery expressed in mother-in-law jokes, and demonstrates how daughters-in-law come to hold the balance of power in the relationship and are able to control it in ways not available to mothers-in-law. The book explores how these relationships are supported and maintained within the context of private and public Notions Family Life. It Traces The Development Of The Relationship through the life-course, demonstrating the influence of significant events such as divorce, cohabitation, grandparenting, ageing and widowhood.; The book tackles areas of private life which are often Difficult To Talk About, And Negative Emotions Such As Jealousy And possessiveness. However, the author refutes the idea that the relationship is always fraught with tension and conflict and examines opportunities for friendship and support in affinal women.

Power relationships between men and women have been discussed extensively in feminist literature, but power relationships between women the significance of in-law relationships between women has largely been overlooked. There is very little positive imagery surrounding the role of the mother-in-law.; Why do myths about "interfering" mothers-in-law predominate? Why are mother-in-law relationships seen as fraught with conflict and not expected to go well? What gives rise to these ideas, how are they maintained and how do they effect family life?; "Friendly Relations?" examines the popular imagery expressed in mother-in-law jokes, and demonstrates how daughters-in-law come to hold the balance of power in the relationship and are able to control it in ways not available to mothers-in-law. The book explores how these relationships are supported and maintained within the context of private and public Notions Family Life. It Traces The Development Of The Relationship through the life-course, demonstrating the influence of significant events such as divorce, cohabitation, grandparenting, ageing and widowhood.; The book tackles areas of private life which are often Difficult To Talk About, And Negative Emotions Such As Jealousy And possessiveness. However, the author refutes the idea that the relationship is always fraught with tension and conflict and examines opportunities for friendship and support in affinal women.

CONCEPTUALISING CHALLENGES AND NEGOTIATIONS FOR WOMEN IN HIGHER EDUCATION 1 2 3 Pamela Cotterill , Sue Jackson and Gayle Letherby 1 2 3 Staffordshire University; Birkeck, University of London; University of Plymouth INTRODUCTION Despite the historical tradition of academia as a male space (Evans, 1995; Abbott et al, 2005; Stanley, 1997; Letherby, 2003) it is possible to argue that the expansion of higher education in the 1980s and 1990s benefited women more than it did men. By 1995 there were two and a half times more women in the academy than in 1970/1 (Abbott et al 2005), and in the decade to follow the numbers of women undergraduate students had overtaken men with a substantial minority of these being older, non-standard entrants. Furthermore, as Paula J Caplan (1997: 3) argues: Visions of the academic life draw us women toward it, picturing an intellectual community whose members search with passion and integrity for Truth and Knowledge. We imagine that in academia we shall find freedom from bias, freedom from worldly struggles of power and wealth, freedom to choose what to study and what to say, and an environment characterized by tolerance and openness, where everyone’s energy is focused on the open exploration of ideas. However, whilst this may be the vision for some women, it is important not to view this widening of female participation in higher education through ‘rose tinted glasses’.