Gender Studies

Introduction
Selection criteria

• General scope
• Geographical area and language
• Format

Collection Strengths

• Microfilm
• Archives and special collections

Collection development policy review for Gender Studies

Introduction

The policy for developing the collections in Gender Studies needs to be seen within the context of the complete acquisitions policy. The interdisciplinary nature of the social sciences and its publications means that subject boundaries cannot always be easily determined and described in isolation. This is particularly true of Gender studies as the Library recognises that all social processes and institutions can be explored in terms of gender relations, which is defined in the widest sense to include the exploration of all aspects of sex and gender as well as feminism and women's studies. Exclusions and qualifications to this policy are mentioned below and in the General Policy Statement: see Principles of collection policy and Criteria for selection.

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Selection criteria

General scope

The following is an outline of the subject scope and coverage of collecting policy for Gender Studies:

Feminist Political Theory
Gender, Development and Globalisation
Gender and the Media
Gender and Social Policy
Gender and ethnicity
Cultural constructions of the body
Gender theories in the modern world:
Gender and sexuality
Gay, lesbian and transgender history and contemporary political activism
Sociology of gender
Gender, justice and war
Gender, Space and Society
Gender and postcolonial theory
Gender and population planning
Reproductive Health Programmes
Human Rights of Women
Population Trends and Processes
Discrimination Law and Human Rights in Employment
Gender, Work and Industrialisation
Gender and Welfare States
Gender, Institutions and Social Development
Psychology of Gender
Family Change and Society
Gender and Development:
Gender, and urbanisation

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Geographical area and language

In the context of human geography the scope of the Library's collections is world-wide. Material is acquired in the major European languages ; works in non-European languages are not normally acquired.

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Format

No distinction is made regarding format of material. The Library will therefore collect relevant material in print, microform, electronic format, and video. 

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Collection strengths

Microfilm

Two collections of material on the gay rights movement in the USA from the International Gay Information Center, New York Public Library, relating to the Gay Activists Alliance and the Mattachine Society.

 Archives and special collections

The Library  stores the Hall-Carpenter Archives (HCA) founded in 1982 which are the largest source for the study of gay activism in Britain from the 1950s to the present day. They include papers, periodicals and documents.

Please see the Archives Division's collection policy.

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Collection development policy review for Gender Studies

This collection development policy will be reviewed on a regular basis in the light of the following: developments in teaching, the interests of the Department and other departments in the School, and relationships with other libraries with whom collaborative arrangements exist. Such reviews will be conducted in cooperation with the Gender Institute.

Reviewed 02/05

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