Summary
WOMEN's STUDIES
Typical questions
• Where can I get up-to-date statistics on women's political representation in India?
• I need a definition of second-wave feminism.
• How can I find journal articles on the ‘glass-ceiling’?
Points to consider
• Women's studies is an inter-disciplinary subject area. It can encompass feminist theory as well as economics, politics, history and a range of other subjects from a female perspective. Many of the professional organizations listed in the subject sections have special-interest groups relating to research or lobbying for women.
Where to look
Key organizations
UK
Fawcett Society
www.fawcettsociety.org.uk
Leading campaigner for gender equality. Website provides free access to many of its research papers as well as campaign materials. Topics covered include women and politics, the gender pay gap and gender and the criminal justice system.
Feminist and Women's Studies Association (UK and Ireland)
fwsa.org.uk
Scholarly society. Website has a blog with news, conference and events listings.
Home Office
www.homeoffice.gov.uk/equalities
UK government body leading on gender equality policy. Website has the text of relevant legislation, research papers and links to related government bodies such as the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC).
International
National Council for Research on Women
www.ncrw.org
Network of over 120 research and public policy institutes focusing on women's lives. Many are US based. Website offers free access to some of their publications.
National Women's Studies Association (USA)
www.nwsa.org
Get news and conference listings.
UNwomen
www.unwomen.org
Created in 2010. Co-ordinates UN activity towards gender equality. Website has news, events, links to reports and statistics.
Libraries and archives
The Women's Library
www.londonmet.ac.uk/thewomenslibrary
Reference library based at London Metropolitan University. Collections cover women's political, social and economic history. Holdings strongest in terms of the UK and the Commonwealth. Catalogue available online.
Locate other UK libraries with historic women's collections using the Genesis website, www.genesis.ac.uk.
Office of the University of Wisconsin System Women's Studies Librarian
womenst.library.wisc.edu
Although intended for local students, this has many excellent services. These include:
• Women's Audiovisuals in English (WAVE). A database that lists documentary, experimental and feature film productions by and about women.
• Feminist Periodicals – a current listing of contents. Annotated listings of tables of contents from major journals.
• Also available are gender topic research guides, bibliographies of readings.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Know it All, Find it Fast for Academic Libraries , pp. 371 - 378Publisher: FacetPrint publication year: 2011