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Different for girls? Feminism, health information and librarianship *
Author(s) -
Ilett Rosie
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
health information and libraries journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.779
H-Index - 38
eISSN - 1471-1842
pISSN - 1471-1834
DOI - 10.1046/j.0265-6647.2001.00360.x
Subject(s) - feminism , mainstream , scope (computer science) , sociology , work (physics) , health care , public relations , perspective (graphical) , gender studies , library science , political science , nursing , medicine , law , mechanical engineering , artificial intelligence , computer science , programming language , engineering
This paper focuses on the provision and organization of health information materials in women’s health centres in UK and Ireland in the late 20th century. Such centres sprung from the work of feminist activists and health workers from the late 1960s onwards, promoting health information and other interventions to counteract women’s devalued status within society, and the stereotypes perpetuated by health care and other systems. Centres that developed were (and still are) typically within the voluntary sector, have a strong feminist perspective and are run by lay workers. This paper will draw on research into information provision in these centres, its scope, organization and who provides it. It will argue that this work is of interest to mainstream librarianship, but there are minimal linkages as feminist thinking within librarianship has been unable overall to make common cause with the work of these, and other such agencies, which has inhibited potential developments of mutual benefit. This paper draws on ongoing research into feminism and librarianship, and findings that have been presented in a number of settings.