DIVA cultural studies account of the changes produced in feminism as it became part of the academy and of the highly orchestrated attack on higher education by the right-wing./div

In this book, the author attempts to integrate previous work on Foucault with feminist theory. She expands discussion of feminism and sexual liberation, charts the impact of Foucault on humanistic studies, and picks up an aspect of the mothering theme, the question of new reproductive technologies.

Offers critical readings of five cases, showing the extent to which, in each instance, public discourse and media representations have served to reinforce dominant norms and constrain or "discipline" any behavior that blurs or subverts conventional gender boundaries.

First Published in 1999. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

Offers critical readings of five cases, showing the extent to which, in each instance, public discourse and media representations have served to reinforce dominant norms and constrain or "discipline" any behavior that blurs or subverts conventional gender boundaries.

Established as an academic field in the 1970s, women's studies is a relatively young but rapidly growing area of study. Not only has the number of scholars working in this subject expanded exponentially, but women's studies has become institutionalized, offering graduate degrees and taking on departmental status in many colleges and universities. At the same time, this field--formed in the wake of the feminist movement--is finding itself in a precarious position in what is now often called a "post-feminist" society. This raises challenging issues for faculty, students, and administrators. How must the field adjust its goals and methods to continue to affect change in the future? Bringing together essays by newcomers as well as veterans to the field, this essential volume addresses timely questions including: Without a unitary understanding of the subject, woman, what is the focus of women's studies? How can women's studies fulfill the promise of interdisciplinarity? What is the continuing place of activism in women's studies? What are the best ways to think about, teach, and act upon the intersections of race, class, gender, disability, nation, and sexuality? Offering innovative models for research and teaching and compelling new directions for action, Women's Studies for the Future ensures the continued relevance and influence of this developing field.