Feminism and Discourse

Psychological Perspectives

Discourse analysis is now a key methodology in social psychology and is considered an important tool by feminist psychologists. Feminism and Discourse is not only representative of the diverse schools using discourse analysis but also offers an informed examination of the value and methodology for feminism and psychology. A critical introduction contextualizes the recent debates in discourse analysis and illustrates four topics of key feminist concern: adolescent knowledge about menstruation, sexual harassment, gendered representation, and anorexia nervosa. The second part of the book contains five assessments of the utility of discourse analysis--both as theory and as method. Feminism and Discourse constitutes both a showcase for a major area of contemporary feminist social psychology in Britain and a critical evaluation of discourse analysis for the feminist project of intellectual, social, and political change. This book is essential reading for discourse analysts across the social sciences and for feminist social psychologists. It will also be of interest to students in social psychology, the psychology of women, psychology and language, women's studies, linguistics, sociology, anthropology, and cultural studies.