Women and power in sociology: SWS as an arena of change

Abstract

This article explores the ways that the feminist organization Sociologists for Women in Society (SWS) has become an arena of change in the discipline of sociology, academic institutions, and larger society. We begin with an examination of feminist models of power and change, followed by a brief history of SWS and an exploration of the use of power in sociology, academia, and beyond. We find that SWS has influenced both the organizational governance structures of sociology (such as the American Sociological Association) and the production of sociological scholarship. As a result, the presence of women is more apparent than ever before, and sociological paradigms are more inclusive and attentive to the voices of “outsiders.” Academic institutions have been challenged and changed by an SWS presence and the monitoring of women's experiences in the academy. Beyond the discipline and academia, SWS strives to participate in the making of public policy that affects women's lives and to be a presence both domestically and internationally in issues affecting the status and well‐being of women. We conclude with the recommendation that sociologists use their experiences and knowledge to create change in the institutions where women practice and the world in which they live.