Gender and Psychology series – serie

This volume investigates a key area of theoretical interest within contemporary feminist and poststructuralist theory, paying particular attention to feminist psychology.

Recognizing that feminist researchers have a long-standing commitment to conducting research from feminist standpoints, the contributors consider the tensions between this and the poststructuralist argument that research and emancipatory politics can flow from personal and political differences. The volume considers questions and developments on `giving voice', and explores arguments and theoretical positions concerning power and subjectivity, paying attention to how these inform research practice.

How close is feminist psychology to contemporary feminism? How can feminist psychological practice address issues of `difference' between women in meaningful ways? What price has feminist psychology had to pay for attempting to engage with mainstream psychology to revise and improve it?

This book critiques feminist practice within psychology, and reflects the diversity from across the globe of feminist struggles around psychology. An international group of key feminist psychologists explore the relations between feminist politics and psychological practices in: transitional and postcolonial contexts; the distinct European traditions of critical psychology and women's studies; and psychology's colonial `centre' in the United States. Issues of `race', class and sexuality figure centrally in the discussions around the politics of feminist practice in psychology.

This book provides a showcase for a wide range of discourse analytical work in psychology from a feminist perspective. It constitutes a thorough critical evaluation of this approach for the feminist project of intellectual, social and political change.

Leading researchers explore the benefits and contradictions of discourse analysis and consider its value for feminist psychology. The first part of the book illustrates the application of discourse analysis to four key topics of feminist concern: adolescent knowledge about menstruation; sexual harassment; gendered representations of childhood; and anorexia nervosa. The second part contains five assessments of the usefulness of discourse analysis - both as theory and as method - for feminists.

This book provides a showcase for a wide range of discourse analytical work in psychology from a feminist perspective. It constitutes a thorough critical evaluation of this approach for the feminist project of intellectual, social and political change.

Leading researchers explore the benefits and contradictions of discourse analysis and consider its value for feminist psychology. The first part of the book illustrates the application of discourse analysis to four key topics of feminist concern: adolescent knowledge about menstruation; sexual harassment; gendered representations of childhood; and anorexia nervosa. The second part contains five assessments of the usefulness of discourse analysis - both as theory and as method - for feminists.

Feminist Groupwork explores the purposes, practice and effectiveness of groupwork with women, drawing upon the authors' own involvement in setting up and running community-based women's groups.

The book offers clear accounts of the structured content of group sessions and the definitions and measurements of change developed by participants. It makes a convincing case for adopting a feminist approach with women who are isolated in their own communities and who bear the brunt of socio-political disadvantage. Central to the book is the focus on women's understandings of themselves and their experiences, and how groupwork can lead to potentially liberating interpretations with profound consequences for participants' lives. Women are encouraged to recognize their resilience, survival skills and strengths.

Feminist Groupwork was awarded a 1992 Distinguished Publication Award by the Association for Women in Psychology, USA.

This innovative book looks at popular perceptions of sexual violence and asks such key questions as: How is `rape' defined? Who is responsible for sexual assault? How can rape be prevented?

The author critically examines feminist and psychological theory and research on attitudes towards rape. Drawing on case studies, survey research, experiments, fieldwork and action-oriented research from Europe, North America and Asia, Ward combines qualitative and quantitative approaches to understanding sexual violence. She highlights the negative consequences for rape victims of biased and prejudicial perceptions of sexual violence, including those of legal, medical and helping professionals, and discusses the impact of these attitudes on victims' self-perceptions.

The book concludes by suggesting strategies for changing ideas about sexual assault, including, for example, action-oriented research which is designed to raise consciousness and improve services for victims.

`I love the warmth and wit in this book, but I say this in no way to detract from the seriousness of its subject matter and its incisive treatment by Mary Crawford... this is a great book and an important book which articulates current critical thinking about research around gender and language. Mary Crawford writes brilliantly, powerfully and lucidly... I thoroughly recommend it' - British Psychological Society Psychology of Women Section Newsletter

This refreshing re-evaluation of current wisdom - both academic and popular - about men's and women's language critically assesses the abundant social science research of recent years and its representation in the mass media. Exploring a wide range of topics, from talk shows to self-help books, Mary Crawford offers a new understanding of the role of language practices in both maintaining - and disrupting - gender inequality.

The book addresses such provocative questions as: Why has the study of gender and language so often focused on the limitations of women's talk? How do academic practices constrain our understanding of how gender relations are re-created and maintained in language use? Why do assertiveness texts usually ignore indirect modes of speech such as humour and storytelling?

`I love the warmth and wit in this book, but I say this in no way to detract from the seriousness of its subject matter and its incisive treatment by Mary Crawford... this is a great book and an important book which articulates current critical thinking about research around gender and language. Mary Crawford writes brilliantly, powerfully and lucidly... I thoroughly recommend it' - British Psychological Society Psychology of Women Section Newsletter

This refreshing re-evaluation of current wisdom - both academic and popular - about men's and women's language critically assesses the abundant social science research of recent years and its representation in the mass media. Exploring a wide range of topics, from talk shows to self-help books, Mary Crawford offers a new understanding of the role of language practices in both maintaining - and disrupting - gender inequality.

The book addresses such provocative questions as: Why has the study of gender and language so often focused on the limitations of women's talk? How do academic practices constrain our understanding of how gender relations are re-created and maintained in language use? Why do assertiveness texts usually ignore indirect modes of speech such as humour and storytelling?

This volume provides a reflexive social history of the development of the psychology of women as an academic field of research and teaching. Core areas of concern in feminist psychology are examined, including discrimination, power and social control, critique of theory and content in psychology, and epistemology. Resisting Gender outlines the stages through which the psychology of women has moved, and highlights the ongoing questions and dilemmas for the field.

Rhoda Unger has been involved with the discipline as a researcher, teacher, author and leader since its inception, and is in a unique position to introduce us to, and offer her perspective on, the key debates and concerns that have driven, or been driven by, the field of the psychology of women.