Creating Women An Interdisciplinary Anthology of Readings on Women in Western Culture

9780137596300

0137596308

Creating Womenis an invaluable resource for students and teachers in a broad range of courses. Its primary sources facilitate researching women's diverse contributions to Western culture. Exploration of women's creative endeavors from the Upper Paleolithic era to the present invites a powerful rethinking of the making of Western civilization. This expansive scope makes a compelling argument that women have been key in the development of culture from its very beginnings. It also reveals the; centrality of gender as a crucial element of social organization and human experiences. Documents are well situated within more familiar time frames and movements; yet clarify the often-restrictive nature of these categories relative to women's experiences. Clear and concise introductions frame selections with pertinent details for contextualizing specific texts and images. While some individuals and selections will be familiar to many readers, others will represent new discoveries in the ongoing task of recovering forgotten women and their contributions. Both Volumes I and II are sensitive to the diversity of women's voices and experiences in Western culture, and celebrate tire accomplishments of women from a broad range of backgrounds as well as the ingenuity of many whose circumstances worked against their talents and ambitions. The selections are lively and engaging, and often give very personal glimpses into both the societal creation of women and women's creativity.