Women's Voices, Feminist Visions: Classic and Contemporary Readings

by Susan M. Shaw, Janet Lee

As a leading introductory women’s studies reader, Shaw and Lee’s Women’s Voices, Feminist Visions offers an excellent balance of classic, conceptual, and experiential selections including new contemporary readings. This student-friendly text provides short and accessible readings reflecting the diversity of women’s experiences. With each new edition, the authors keep the framework essays and selections of readings fresh and interesting for students.

Genres: Feminism, Nonfiction, School, Textbooks, History, Sociology, Reference

736 pages, Paperback

First published January 15, 2001

Reviews

[LPR · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read basically all of this book for my Women's studies class. What a great textbook! Compelling, well written, informative. SUper super up to date which was so cool. The supplementary readings were interesting and contained a variety of perspectives.

[Katie Boe · Rating 2 out of 5]

A brilliant anthology filled with a multitude of "women's voices," however, Shaw and Lee themselves seem a bit too biased in several discussions circled around celebrity feminism as well as contemporary examples of sexism in the media. I live for feminist criticism but must interject when an author blatantly silences other working parts of a concept simply because it interferes with their contention. Remaining objective when discussing oppression is significantly more important than evoking a rise from your reader by giving a one-sided recount of your research. Loved the collection of literature from various feminist writers, though!

[Alisa Johnson Drury · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the assigned textbook for my Women's Studies class at CCBC. I loved this course and this book. Very enlightening about women's rights and rights of other minorities. It was very interesting to read the stories and learn about how women and minorities struggled to find a place in society.

[Ananya Garg · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my textbook for my Intro to Gender, Women, Sexuality Studies class, and it was such an excellent resource! The readings are very diverse and varied and I like how they are broken up. Paired with my amazing professor, this book made my class one of my favorites! I was annoyed to have to shell over $130 for this book, but I'm so glad I bought it because I still reference today and use it for other GWSS classes.

[Rants and Bants]

Saw this from someone I follow on tumblr who's taking a gender studies class for laughs basically. There were buzzwords in it like "white privilege" and "male privilege". Yep, typical liberal college textbook, designed to indoctrinate people who happen to have different views (like actual equality). Thank god I never had to take a class like this (although I've taken similar classes..). Count me out.

[Lindsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is incredibly worthwhile as it has some great readings in it, although not all of them feel up to date. But then again, the feminist genre doesn't seem to evolve too quickly so much of it is still disturbingly relevant despite older publication dates. Every time I pick this book up something new jumps out at me and changes my perspective, if even just a tinsy bit.

[Jenna Owens · Rating 4 out of 5]

The only textbook I think I've ever enjoyed reading! What a wonderful experience I've had in my Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies class. 4 stars because I had an issue with pornography being discussed in the chapter on violence, which actually sparked a pretty lively discussion in our class.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good women's studies book with short stories on everything from cultural practices to intersex issues.

[Webchicken]

This is the textbook used for the Introduction to Women's Studies course I teach. I think the text does a great job of introducing topics and balancing historic and modern takes on feminism.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I used this book in my first Women's Studies course, and still enjoy reading it. Very useful.

[Nicole · Rating 2 out of 5]

Textbook

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a Women's Studies instructor and I teach from this book. I think it does a swell job with presenting diverse opinions within feminism and it includes classic essays.

[Amity · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing! You really receive all the angles of feminism! I am now a Women's Studies major after taking a class that used this book!

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous Women's Studies textbook. My only college textbook that I have read cover to cover.

[Stellaluna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haven't actually read the whole thing yet, but it's good enough in general that I decided to buy it at the end of the semester of college I needed it for.

[Amy]

Read 1st chapter

[Justin whitson · Rating 1 out of 5]

Postmodern Neo-Marxist propaganda. Had to rent this text for a gender studies class.

[Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

Could have addressed certain race- and LGBTQ-related issues better, but pretty good as far as textbooks go.

[Karrington · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the readings in this book and would definitely recommend it to anyone wanting to get a clearer view on feminism and the teachings involved.

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

There were some moments when I was like, "Yeah, we been done knew," but there were also some genuinely insightful things here.

[Elisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Women’s Voices, Feminist Visions is the textbook for my introductory women’s studies course. I think that this was a thoughtful and well-rounded choice on the part of my professor. Not only does it provide in-depth introductions to important women’s issues as the chapters, but the readings for each chapter provide an array of classic and contemporary feminist texts in order to engage its readers. The writing is also at a good level for its intended audience, it’s not so simple that it bores but it also doesn’t alienate—the most important factors for a textbook. My only criticism lies in the fact that this is a very American book, I attend a Canadian university so I would have liked a book that reflects my interests a little more but considering the readings offered I can live with it.

[Alexis · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you're new to women's/gender studies at the college level, this is a good starter book that will introduce you to main, recurring topics within the field, i.e. wage disparity, Black erasure by White feminists, etc. It is worth reading!
My one criticism of it is that it doesn't enter much into LGBTQ+ topics for women. If you're looking for in-depth criticism on LGBTQ+ issues from a female/female-identified perspective, I would suggest looking elsewhere.

[Annie Jarman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection of essays displaying a broad range of contrasting and often contradictory opinions penned by women to address core issues in U.S. and global society. A great way to receive a bounty of well-thought arguments concerning women's issues, with lots of historical background for common problems.

[Catherine Wasylewski · Rating 1 out of 5]

If you like books written on the basis of opinion and passed off as a textbook, this is the book for you. Someone really needs to teach the writers/editors the difference between causation and correlation...

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an introductory book, but the thing i think made it most unique was the readings at the end of every chapter, featuring real life stories, articles, and poems. I really enjoyed reading those.

[Luke Harms · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great introductory look at a variety of academic viewpoints of women and gender studies with a good balance of theory, data, and stories of lived experience.

[Nathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked how information was presented and the readings were well chosen and engaging. Read most of it for WMST 1172.

[Kendylus Roboticus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great textbook with literature from wonderful feminists, it was inspiring and self reflecting.

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the book that I assign in my Intro to Women's Studies course. So I am always reading it...

[Kess]

My women studies 001 book! Lot's of classic essays!