Border Crossings between Women's Studies and Sociology

Abstract

Women's Studies is in its very conception an interdisciplinary field. Although sociology is a recognized discipline, its intellectual terrain is so varied that it often seems an interdisciplinary discipline. The breadth of the list of fields with which sociology shares borders, as noted in the conceptual statement for this symposium, itself speaks to sociology's multifaceted character. Thus a good deal of common ground connects Women's Studies sociology, as with several points of tension along the border. For definitional purposes, Women's Studies is the systematic study of theoretical methodological frameworks within which to examine women's participation in society in both historical contemporary contexts from multicultural perspectives. (The and men's part of this definition would not always have been included in the definition, although I think it safe to say that the great majority of Women's Studies scholars would now support this inclusiveness.) Contemporary sociologists study human societies social behavior, describing explaining social trends, forms of social organization, behavior patterns by conceptualizing analyzing social phenomena and, usually, by empirically examining the causes consequences of social structures social behaviors. These two definitions suggest considerable overlap, the primary difference being that Women's Studies focuses on gender, hence is more narrow. A closer look points also to key differences in the histories/rationales, prevailing theories, methods, the relationships of these fields to the political terrain. I review each of these arenas then suggest several specific influences each field has had on the other.