Portrait
Judith Lorber (born November 28, 1931) is Professor Emerita of Sociology and Women's Studies at The CUNY Graduate Center and Brooklyn College of the City University of New York. She is a foundational theorist of social construction of gender difference and has more recently called for a de-gendering of the social world. Lorber was actively involved in Sociologists for Women in Society from the early 1970¿s. She developed and taught some of the first courses in the sociology of gender, women¿s studies, and feminist theory at Brooklyn College and the Graduate School, where she was the first Coordinator of the Women¿s Studies Certificate Program in 1988-1991. She was Chair of the ASA Sex and Gender Section in 1992-93 and was awarded the Jessie Bernard Award in 1996 "in recognition of scholarly work that has enlarged the horizons of sociology to encompass fully the role of women in society.
Zitat
It is likely to become a benchmark in gender scholarship for some time to come. The collection addresses the recent past, and potential future, of gender analysis across a range of social issues and across traditions of social analysis. The 16 mainly original chapters are authored primarily by American sociologists, and many of them are well known for their expertise in the study of gender. In addition, and in keeping with the boundary-stretching ethos set out in the editors' introduction, authors include prominent voices from other countries and other disciplines, as well as more recent generations of gender scholarship. The broader reach of this collection, in terms of generational, international and cross-disciplinary scholarship, does much to enhance its usefulness and appeal. -- Jan Siltanen, (University of Carleton) Canadian Journal of Sociology The book should appeal not only to academics but to all those who are interested in contemporary social questions. Journal of Sociology and Social Welfare Articles in this collection spanning the social sciences are intended to reexamine gender in a more sophisticated manner as process and structure, from individual to societal levels of analysis. Calling disciplinary distinctions into question, the editorial focus does not assume dichotomous gender but begins to explain the meaning of gender. Contributors lay out the accomplishments and dilemmas of recent reconceptualization of gender in feminist theory and research, making it clear that there is no unified gender theory or constructs. They also address the macrostructures that organize gender, with regard to the state and political authority, the world-system of organizations and corporations, and the economies of industrial societies. Essays take upthe issue of gender discourse and culture at the macrosocietal level in religion and the media, and expand on feminist ideas of the social constriction of gender by the sciences, the workplace, family, and sports. Further, contributors deal with those interactive processes at the microlevel through which gender is constituted, performed, and recreated. The intent is to force a rethinking of social science concepts and to encourage debate with fresh perspectives. Upper-division undergraduates and above. -- M. Klatte, (Eastern Kentucky University) CHOICE Articles in this collection spanning the social sciences are intended to reexamine gender in a more sophisticated manner as process and structure, from individual to societal levels of analysis. Calling disciplinary distinctions into question, the editorial focus does not assume dichotomous gender but begins to explain the meaning of gender. Contributors lay out the accomplishments and dilemmas of recent reconceptualization of gender in feminist theory and research, making it clear that there is no unified gender theory or constructs. They also address the macrostructures that organize gender, with regard to the state and political authority, the world-system of organizations and corporations, and the economies of industrial societies. Essays take up the issue of gender discourse and culture at the macrosocietal level in religion and the media, and expand on feminist ideas of the social constriction of gender by the sciences, the workplace, family, and sports. Further, contributors deal with those interactive processes at the microlevel through which gender is constituted, performed, and recreated. The intent is to force a rethinking of social science concepts and to encourage debate with fresh perspectives. Upper-division undergraduates and above. -- M. Klatte, (Eastern Kentucky University) CHOICE
