Engendering Economics : Conversations with Women Economists in the United States

By the 1950s the percentage of all economic doctorates awarded to women had dropped to a record low of less than five percent. By presenting interviews with the female economists who received PhD's between 1950 and 1975, this book provides a richer understanding of the sociology of the economics profession. Their post-war experiences as family members, students and professionals, illustrate the challenges that have been faced by women, including both white and African-American women, in a white male dominated profession. Engaging and insightful, the impressive scope of philosophical perspectives, career paths, research interests, feminist inclinations, and observations about the economics profession and women's place within it, will appeal to anyone interested in economics, sociology and gender studies. It is an amazing fact that by the 1950's the percentage of all economic doctorates awarded to women dropped by a record low of under five percent. This book supports the growing feminist literature that challenge the unrelenting focus on the suburban post-war housewife that has obscured the complexity of women's lives during this period and the gender ambiguities embedded in the post-war culture.In a first of its kind, this book provides a richer understanding of the sociology of the economics profession by presenting the oral histories of women economists who received the PhD's between 1950 and 1975. Recounting their stories about their post-war experiences as family members, students and professionals, we learn not only what it was/is like to be a woman and /or African-American in a white male dominated profession, but also how the profession operates, and what specifically is required for its improvement. By interviewing a wide range of female economists, Olsen and Emami have managed to present an impressive scope of philosophical perspectives, career paths, research interests, feminist proclivities, and observations about the profession and women's place within it.The accessible style and insightful contributions within Engendering Economics will appeal to academics and students within the fields of economics ad sociology, as well as all with an interest in gender. Between 1950 And 1975, The Percentage Of Women Receiving Economic Doctorates In The United States Sunk To A New Low. This Book Consists Of A Series Of Interviews With Some Of The Few Women Who Did Attain This Status During That Period - A Pioneering Group Who Paved The Way For The Revival Of Later Years. Engendering Economics Demonstrates That Women's Experiences In Economics Not Only Differ From Those Of Men, But From Those Of Each Other. The Study Will Be Valuable To All Those Working In Feminist Economics, The History Of Economic Thought, And Social And Institutional Economics. It Should Also Prove To Be An Eye-opener To The Profession As A Whole, Male-dominated As It Continues To Be.--jacket. Ingrid Hanne Rima -- Marianne Abeles Ferber -- Barbara Berman Bergmann -- Alice Mitchell Rivlin -- Suzanne Wiggins Helburn -- Anne Mayhew -- Myra Hoffenberg Strober -- Barbara Ann Posey Jones -- Lois Banfill Shaw -- Margaret Constance Simms -- Lourdes Beneria. Paulette I. Olson And Zoreh Emami. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 250-257) And Index. Book Cover......Page 1 Title......Page 4 Contents......Page 5 List of plates......Page 10 List of abbreviations and acronyms......Page 12 Acknowledgments......Page 16 Introduction......Page 18 Ingrid Hahne Rima......Page 32 Marianne Abeles Ferber......Page 48 Barbara Berman Bergmann......Page 70 Alice Mitchell Rivlin......Page 90 Suzanne Wiggins Helburn......Page 106 Anne Mayhew......Page 124 Myra Hoffenberg Strober......Page 150 Barbara Ann Posey Jones......Page 178 Lois Banfill Shaw......Page 204 Margaret Constance Simms......Page 226 Lourdes Benera......Page 244 Questions used for Oral History Project......Page 266 Select bibliography......Page 267 Index......Page 276 Between 1950 and 1975, the percentage of women receiving economic doctorates in the US sunk to an all time low. This book consists of a series of interviews with the pioneering few who did attain this status during that period. A consummate theoretician, Ingrid has written numerous books and over thirty articles.