The Ann Oakley reader : gender, women, and social science

Edited and selected by the author, this reader starts with work first published in the early 1970s. Ann Oakley's research and writing on sex and gender, housework, motherhood, women's health, and social science have influenced many inside and beyond social science, helping to shape the academic study of women and gender up to the present day.This book brings together edited extracts from classic texts by the internationally renowned feminist sociologist, Ann Oakley. Many of Oakley's early works are out of print and this collection makes them available again. There are extracts from pioneering studies such as Sex, Gender and Society, The Sociology of Housework, Becoming a Mother and Women Confined, presented alongside some of Ann Oakley's more recent reflections on methodology, scientific method and research practice. The book illustrates how Oakley's thinking has evolved over a period in which much in the field of gender and women's studies has changed. Each section of the book is prefaced by Oakley's reflections on how her original studies relate to more recent research and theoretical perspectives. There are many points of intersection with modern debates about how (and whether) to 'do' gender and what terms such as 'women' and 'men' really mean. The result is a valuable commentary on thirty years' work on women, gender and social science methodology which will be of interest to many, especially undergraduate and A-level students, as well as all those grappling with current issues about the past and future of work in the contested areas of gender, women's studies and feminist social science The Ann Oakley reader Contents Sources of extracts Foreword by Germaine Greer Preface Part 1: Introduction Part 1: Chapter 1: The difference between sex and gender Part 1: Chapter 2: Genes and gender What makes a male? Of mice and men The politics of ‘sex differences’ research Part 1: Chapter 3: A kind of person Homo sapiens Standing (or lying) still: feminine passivity Responding well: feminine instability Dominant standards Part 1: Chapter 4: Childhood lessons It’s a baby Conceiving gender Penis and other envies Artefacts of gender Out of place Part 1: Chapter 5: Science, gender and women’s liberation Science Who needs gender? The backlash, gender, and feminism Women’s health Research needs and women’s health Postmodernism and women’s liberation Conclusion Part 2: Introduction Part 2: Chapter 1: On studying housework Part 2: Chapter Two: Images of housework Part 2: Chapter 3: Work conditions Monotony, fragmentation and excessive pace Social interaction Working hours The technical environment Part 2: Chapter 4: Standards and routines Part 2: Chapter 5: Marriage and the division of labour Behaviour Beliefs and attitudes Part 2: Chapter 6: Helping with baby Feelings about fatherhood Dirty nappy stories A typical man Part 2: Chapter 7: Housework in history and culture What is housework? Who does the housework? Part 3: Introduction Part 3: Chapter 1: The agony and the ecstasy Introduction Birth passages Part 3: Chapter 2: Lessons mothers learn Expectations Fairy stories The reality of motherhood Joining the club Women of the world Part 3: Chapter 3: Medical maternity cases Nature and culture Medical mastery Part 3: Chapter 4: Mistakes and mystiques of motherhood Part 4: Introduction Part 4: Chapter 1: The invisible woman: sexism in sociology Manifestations Reasons Part 4: Chapter 2: Reflections thirty years on Masculinism Theory Evidence and experimentation Methodological wars Part 4: Chapter 3: On being interviewed Becoming aware Feeling normal Us against them A case of change? Talking it out Part 4: Chapter 4: Interviewing women: a contradiction in terms? Interviewing: a masculine paradigm? Women interviewing women: or objectifying your sister Asking questions back The transition to friendship? A feminist interviews women Is a ‘proper’ interview ever possible? Part 4: Chapter 5: Who’s afraid of the randomised controlled trial? Origins and problems of the RCT as a tool for researching women’s health Who cares for women? An RCT of social support Chance or causation? The role of random numbers Consenting adults? The importance of being (un)certain Conclusion Part 4: Chapter 6: Paradigm wars Arguing about method: introduction The old and new Oakleys Interviewing and other trials Mixing methods Quantification and experimentation for women (and other people)? On labelling General bibliography Bibliography of work by Ann Oakley Ann Oakley: further reading Index Untitled This Book Brings Together Extracts From Classic Texts By The Internationally Renowned Feminist Sociologist, Ann Oakley. Edited And Selected By The Author Herself, It Starts With Work First Published In The Early 1970s. Ann Oakley's Research And Writing On Sex And Gender, Housework, Motherhood, Women's Health And Social Science Have Enormously Influenced The Thinking Of Many Inside And Beyond Social Science, And Have Helped To Shape The Academic Study Of Women And Gender Right Up To The Present Day. Many Of Oakley's Early Works Are Out Of Print And This Collection Makes Them Available Again.--jacket. Part I. Sex And Gender -- The Difference Between Sex And Gender -- Genes And Gender -- A Kind Of Person -- Childhood Lessons -- Science, Gender And Women's Liberation -- Part 2. Housework And Family Life -- On Studying Housework -- Images Of Housework -- Work Conditions -- Standards And Routines -- Marriage And The Division Of Labour -- Helping With Baby -- Housework In History And Culture -- Part 3. Childbirth, Motherhood And Medicine -- The Agony And The Ecstasy -- Lessons Mothers Learn -- Medical Maternity Cases -- Mistakes And Mystiques Of Motherhood -- Part 4. Doing Social Science -- The Invisible Woman: Sexism In Sociology -- Reflections Thirty Years On -- On Being Interviewed -- Interviewing Women: A Contradiction In Terms? -- Who's Afraid Of The Randomised Controlled Trial? Some Dilemmas Of The Scientific Method And 'good' Research Practice -- Paradigm Wars: Some Thoughts On A Personal And Public Trajectory. Written And Edited By Ann Oakley ; Foreword By Germaine Greer. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 251-280) And Index. Bibliography Of Work By Ann Oakley: P. 281-283. Ann Oakley: Further Reading: P. 285-294. This book brings together edited extracts from classic texts by the internationally renowned feminist sociologist, Ann Oakley.Many of Oakley's early works are out of print and this collection makes them available again. There are extracts from pioneering studies such as Sex, Gender and Society, The Sociology of Housework, From Here to Maternity and Women Confined, presented alongside some of Ann Oakley's more recent reflections on methodology, scientific method and research practice.The book illustrates how Oakley's thinking has evolved over a period in which much in the field of gender and women's studies has changed. Each section of the book is prefaced by Oakley's reflections on how her original studies relate to more recent research and theoretical perspectives. There are many points of intersection with modern debates about how (and whether) to 'do' gender and what terms such as 'women' and 'men' really mean.The result is a valuable commentary on thirty years' work on women,