Gender and education

Gender and Education is a rich resource for obtaining an overview of current scholarship in this important area. Its usefulness derives not only from the range of topics considered but also from the varying perspectives represented by the authors of the essays. A "feminist" point of view characterizes the approach taken in addressing the issues with which the book deals. Yet, as the editors point out in their introductory chapter, it is necessary today to "speak of feminisms rather than feminism" because of the different perspectives among feminists on matters relating to gender. The explanation of how this pluralism in the feminist movement has come about is one of the interesting and important contributions of the book. A recurrent theme throughout the volume emphasizes that discussions of gender and of research on gender differences are incomplete without recognition of the impact of other important factors. It is convincingly argued here that one's identity is only partially established by considerations of gender, and that a fuller understanding of identity requires attention, for example, to social class, ethnicity, and race. Other recurrent themes highlighted by the editors include the emphasis on the collective struggles of women to be heard and taken seriously in matters of theory, policy, and practice in education; on the need for equity to counteract the continuing experiences of inequity faced by women in education; and on alternative ways of framing questions, investigating problems, and interpreting data. Teachers and administrators at all levels, academics, and researchers are the primary audience for this volume, where the essays speak with a strong voice to concerns that deserve the attention of all who work in education today.