SAGE ASA Review Author(s):Zelda F.Gamson Review by:Zelda F.Gamson Source:Contemporary Sociology,Vol.14,No.5(Sep.,1985),pp.613-614 Published by:American Sociological Association Stable URL:http://www.jstor.org/stable/2069547 Accessed:16-01-2016 12:34 UTC Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms&Conditions of Use,available at http://www.jstor.org/pagel info/about/policies/terms isp JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars,researchers,and students discover,use,and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive.We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR,please contact support@jstor.org. Sage Publications,Inc.and American Sociological Association are collaborating with JSTOR to digitize,preserve and extend access to Contemporary Sociology. STOR http://www.jstor.org This content downloaded from 183.195.251.166 on Sat,16 Jan 2016 12:34:00 UTC All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
Sage Publications, Inc. and American Sociological Association are collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to Contemporary Sociology. http://www.jstor.org Review Author(s): Zelda F. Gamson Review by: Zelda F. Gamson Source: Contemporary Sociology, Vol. 14, No. 5 (Sep., 1985), pp. 613-614 Published by: American Sociological Association Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/2069547 Accessed: 16-01-2016 12:34 UTC Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at http://www.jstor.org/page/ info/about/policies/terms.jsp JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact support@jstor.org. This content downloaded from 183.195.251.166 on Sat, 16 Jan 2016 12:34:00 UTC All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
BOOK REVIEWS 613 And before all,Australian feminist work is members,including women.Equality was to transdisciplinary,building in a coherent con- be assured by requiring that all members work. structive fashion on feminist work from a Wage payment to individuals-indeed,an range of disciplines.Matthews'book,then, internal economy based on money-was not only provides a thorough history of strictly forbidden.Food,shelter,clothing,en- women in Australia and a compelling account tertainment and culture,education,and child of pressures on individual women's lives,but care were all to be provided collectively by a at the same time reviews and builds on an self-governing community of equals impressive range of feminist literature. This is the situation in the kibbutz today:A I have only two critical comments regarding woman is not dependent on a man for her this book.First,Matthews uses the term con- support,nor are her children.She need not do sumption to describe aspects of domestic routine cooking,shopping,or laundry,nor is labor that concern the maintenance and nur- she the main caretaker of her children.Vio- ture of household members,the preparation of lence against women and children in the kib- food,shelter,and clothing.Other Australian butz is almost unheard of. feminists have also used this term to describe European labor Zionism was not particu- aspects of the household economy.I am un- larly concerned about the emancipation of easy with it,given the obvious work context women,and even from the beginning,as in which this "consumption"takes place,and Safir's historical materials make clear,women I would like to see a more careful definition. and only women were expected to specialize Second,considering Matthews'sensitive in domestic jobs.As Blasi points out,there treatment of so many aspects of women's was not and is not now an infrastructure to lives,the omission of a theoretical and histori- assure the equality of women with men.The cal analysis of so-called volunteer work as an ideals of hard physical work on the land and aspect of the gender order is surprising. their accompanying imagery were masculine; Matthews'book is free of jargon and is eas- in effect,women were considered equal (or ily accessible to students in introductory unequal)according to a male yardstick. women's studies and history classes.At the At the beginning,the kibbutz settlements same time it offers a new perspective and were very poor.There were many more men fresh knowledge and understanding of than women.Some of the women worked women's lives even to more seasoned alongside the men in the fields-but the men feminists. did not work alongside the women in the kitchen and the laundry.The men received special training for their work;the women did not. Sexual Equality:The Israeli Kibbutz Tests the Some women resisted this situation from Theories, edited by MICHAL PALGI,JOSEPH the beginning,but the differentiation between RAPHAEL BLASI,MENACHEM ROSNER,and men's work and women's work only increased MARILYN SAFIR.(Preface by Betty Friedan.) when children came along.Industrialization, Norwood,PA:Norwood Editions,1983.337 which entered the kibbutz in the 1950s and pp.$27.50 cloth. continues to this day,has improved the stan- dard of living.The birth rate in the kibbutz ZELDA F.GAMSON increased and is now higher than the general University of Massachusetts/Boston Israeli birth rate.The family has become a central institution in the kibbutz for both men Sexual Equality brings together articles, and women.The private dwelling has become most of them published elsewhere,from kib- the center of family life,and the mother holds butz members and nonmembers,Israelis and that center together. non-Israelis.The articles were selected delib- The result:About 80 percent of kibbutz erately to highlight contradictory approaches women work in child care,clothing care,and to sexual equality in the kibbutz.For all their cooking (Palgi and Rosner).Girls'and differences,however,the authors differ hardly women's work aspirations are lower than at all on the fundamental facts.(Indeed,it men's;despite an equal education,girls per- would have been well had the editors pruned form more poorly than boys in high school some of the repetitious material from the con- (Safir).While they do not differ in their over- tributions.)All agree that the kibbutz from the all participation in kibbutz life,men and beginning has emphasized equality for all women also specialize outside of work.Men Contemporary Sociology,September 1985,Volume 14,Number 5 This content downloaded from 183.195.251.166 on Sat,16 Jan 2016 12:34:00 UTC All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
BOOK REVIEWS 613 And before all, Australian feminist work is transdisciplinary, building in a coherent constructive fashion on feminist work from a range of disciplines. Matthews' book, then, not only provides a thorough history of women in Australia and a compelling account of pressures on individual women's lives, but at the same time reviews and builds on an impressive range of feminist literature. I have only two critical comments regarding this book. First, Matthews uses the term consumption to describe aspects of domestic laborthat concern the maintenance and nurture of household members, the preparation of food, shelter, and clothing. Other Australian feminists have also used this term to describe aspects of the household economy. I am uneasy with it, given the obvious work context in which this "consumption" takes place, and I would like to see a more careful definition. Second, considering Matthews' sensitive treatment of so many aspects of women' s lives, the omission of a theoretical and historical analysis of so-called volunteer work as an aspect of the gender order is surprising. Matthews' book is free of jargon and is easily accessible to students in introductory women's studies and history classes. At the same time it offers a new perspective and fresh knowledge and understanding of women's lives even to more seasoned feminists. Sexual Equality: The Israeli Kibbutz Tests the Theories, edited by MICHAL PALGI, JOSEPH RAPHAEL BLASI, MENACHEM ROSNER, and MARILYN SAFIR. (Preface by Betty Friedan.) Norwood, PA: Norwood Editions, 1983. 337 pp. $27.50 cloth. ZELDA F. GAMSON University of Massachusetts/Boston Sexual Equality brings together articles, most of them published elsewhere, from kibbutz members and nonmembers, Israelis and non-Israelis. The articles were selected deliberately to highlight contradictory approaches to sexual equality in the kibbutz. For all their differences, however, the authors differ hardly at all on the fundamental facts. (Indeed, it would have been well had the editors pruned some of the repetitious material from the contributions.) All agree that the kibbutz from the beginning has emphasized equality for all members, including women. Equality was to be assured by requiring that all members work. Wage payment to individuals-indeed, an internal economy based on money-was strictly forbidden. Food, shelter, clothing, entertainment and culture, education, and child care were all to be provided collectively by a self-governing community of equals. This is the situation in the kibbutz today: A woman is not dependent on a man for her support, nor are her children. She need not do routine cooking, shopping, or laundry, nor is she the main caretaker of her children. Violence against women and children in the kibbutz is almost unheard of. European labor Zionism was not particularly concerned about the emancipation of women, and even from the beginning, as Safir's historical materials make clear, women and only women were expected to specialize in domestic jobs. As Blasi points out, there was not and is not now an infrastructure to assure the equality of women with men. The ideals of hard physical work on the land and their accompanying imagery were masculine; in effect, women were considered equal (or unequal) according to a male yardstick. At the beginning, the kibbutz settlements were very poor. There were many more men than women. Some of the women worked alongside the men in the fields-but the men did not work alongside the women in the kitchen and the laundry. The men received special training for their work; the women did not. Some women resisted this situation from the beginning, but the differentiation between men's work and women's work only increased when children came along. Industrialization, which entered the kibbutz in the 1950s and continues to this day, has improved the standard of living. The birth rate in the kibbutz increased and is now higher than the general Israeli birth rate. The family has become a central institution in the kibbutz for both men and women. The private dwelling has become the center of family life, and the mother holds that center together. The result: About 80 percent of kibbutz women work in child care, clothing care, and cooking (Palgi and Rosner). Girls' and women' s work aspirations are lower than men's; despite an equal education, girls perform more poorly than boys in high school (Safir). While they do not differ in their overall participation in kibbutz life, men and women also specialize outside of work. Men Contemporary Sociology, September 1985, Volume 14, Number 5 This content downloaded from 183.195.251.166 on Sat, 16 Jan 2016 12:34:00 UTC All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
614 BOOK REVIEWS are more active in economic activities-90 adopt a life-span developmental perspective percent of the leadership positions in the kib- stressing both social and psychological as- butz are held by men-and women in cultural pects of women's lives.The focus on preven- and social activities.Women nowadays care tion speaks to issues of social policy while the more about looking attractive than their crisis-intervention emphasis lends itself to pioneer mothers and grandmothers apparently applied fields.The authors aim their work at did (or could afford to).And mothers have undergraduate students in sociology,psychol- been behind "bringing the children home"in ogy,and women's studies.The book contains kibbutzim where children sleep at night in the three parts,each preceded by an introduction children's houses. covering the content and thematic linkages. There has been much discussion about the Theoretical issues are the topic of the four "problem of the women'in the kibbutzim; chapters included in part 1.Some of these recently,one of the kibbutz federations articles provide general models that establish passed a number of resolutions to improve the a useful basis for understanding specific situation of women,including having men problems of women.For example,Lucia Gil- comprise 20 percent of the educational staff bert's model concerns achievement among that works with young children.Yet survey women.She posits various social and psy- evidence does not support the view that there chological factors,such as a lack of female is widespread dissatisfaction with sexual role models,cultural sex-role attitudes, equality on the kibbutz.Leviatan,Palgi, women's expectations for success,and self- and Rosner,whose data are the most recent confidence,that affect women's ability to and representative in the book,show that achieve.She concludes that the unequal dis- women are not less satisfied with their work tribution of power associated with sexual ob- than men (although their involvement in and jectification and discriminatory practices are aspirations for work are lower than men's). major barriers to women's achievement. Furthermore,they argue that service work is On the other hand,Dorr and Friedenberg's not less esteemed than production work by model is too specific to increase understand- rank-and-file members in recent years,as the ing of women's social or psychological prob- kibbutz has moved toward a more service/ lems.However,the authors present a clear knowledge-based economy.Their studies also description of object-relations theory in their indicate that men are almost as involved as analysis of mother/child separation.The women in domestic and educational duties chapter by Mulvey and Dohrenwend,in the within the family. last section,presents a general model of the They argue,as Betty Friedan does in the impact of stressful life events on women's preface,that the kibbutz must find a way to mental illness and should have been included honor the family without sacrificing women. among these articles. Kibbutz men must come to value female The focus on social problems in section 2 values and experiences as much as kibbutz will be of particular interest to sociologists. women have been expected to value the world Many of the articles expand some traditional of men.If this comes to pass even partially, topics in this field by discussing situations that we will have much to learn from the kibbutz. have gender-specific implications.For exam- ple,an excellent article by Riger and Gordon suggests that women's fear of rape exacer- bates their general fear of crime.The authors' Social and Psychological Problems of solution is to encourage women to learn active Women:Prevention and Crisis Intervention, strategies of self-protection,thereby decreas- edited by ANNETTE U.RICKEL,MEG GER- ing their sense of vulnerability and overall fear RARD,and IRA ISCOE.Washington,DC: of victimization.Another chapter,by Albino Hemisphere Publishing,1984.322 pp.$27.45 and Tedesco,examines the relationship be- cloth tween low socioeconomic status and in- creasing health risks along with structural JEAN L.BLANCHARD barriers to quality health care for women.The University of California,Santa Barbara authors assess three types of health-care pro- grams currently available to women and rec- This anthology contains sixteen previously ommend health-care policy changes aimed at unpublished articles dealing with unique empowering women. problems faced by women.Most articles Topics in the last section address psycho- Contemporary Sociology,September 1985,Volume 14,Number 5 This content downloaded from 183.195.251.166 on Sat,16 Jan 2016 12:34:00 UTC All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
614 BOOK REVIEWS are more active in economic activities-90 percent of the leadership positions in the kibbutz are held by men-and women in cultural and social activities. Women nowadays care more about looking attractive than their pioneer mothers and grandmothers apparently did (or could afford to). And mothers have been behind "bringing the children home" in kibbutzim where children sleep at night in the children's houses. There has been much discussion about the "problem of the women" in the kibbutzim; recently, one of the kibbutz federations passed a number of resolutions to improve the situation of women, including having men comprise 20 percent of the educational staff that works with young children. Yet survey evidence does not support the view that there is widespread dissatisfaction with sexual equality on the kibbutz. Leviatan, Palgi, and Rosner, whose data are the most recent and representative in the book, show that women are not less satisfied with their work than men (although their involvement in and aspirations for work are lower than men's). Furthermore, they argue that service work is not less esteemed than production work by rank-and-file members in recent years, as the kibbutz has moved toward a more service/ knowledge-based economy. Their studies also indicate that men are almost as involved as women in domestic and educational duties within the family. They argue, as Betty Friedan does in the preface, that the kibbutz must find a way to honor the family without sacrificing women. Kibbutz men must come to value female values and experiences as much as kibbutz women have been expected to value the world of men. If this comes to pass even partially, we will have much to learn from the kibbutz. Social and Psychological Problems of Women: Prevention and Crisis Intervention, edited by ANNETTE U. RICKEL, MEG GERRARD, and IRA ISCOE. Washington, DC: Hemisphere Publishing, 1984. 322 pp. $27.45 cloth. JEAN L. BLANCHARD University of California, Santa Barbara This anthology contains sixteen previously unpublished articles dealing with unique problems faced by women. Most articles adopt a life-span developmental perspective stressing both social and psychological aspects of women's lives. The focus on prevention speaks to issues of social policy while the crisis-intervention emphasis lends itself to applied fields. The authors aim their work at undergraduate students in sociology, psychology, and women's studies. The book contains three parts, each preceded by an introduction covering the content and thematic linkages. Theoretical issues are the topic of the four chapters included in part 1. Some of these articles provide general models that establish a useful basis for understanding specific problems of women. For example, Lucia Gilbert's model concerns achievement among women. She posits various social and psychological factors., such as a lack of female role models, cultural sex-role attitudes, women's expectations for success, and selfconfidence, that affect women's ability to achieve. She concludes that the unequal distribution of power associated with sexual objectification and discriminatory practices are major barriers to women's achievement. On the other hand, Dorr and Friedenberg's model is too specific to increase understanding of women's social or psychological problems. However, the authors present a clear description of object-relations theory in their analysis of mother/child separation. The chapter by Mulvey and Dohrenwend, in the last section, presents a general model of the impact of stressful life events on women's mental illness and should have been included among these articles. The focus on social problems in section 2 will be of particular interest to sociologists. Many of the articles expand some traditional topics in this field by discussing situations that have gender-specific implications. For example, an excellent article by Riger and Gordon suggests that women's fear of rape exacerbates their general fear of crime. The authors' solution is to encourage women to learn active strategies of self-protection, thereby decreasing their sense of vulnerability and overall fear of victimization. Another chapter, by Albino and Tedesco, examines the relationship between low socioeconomic status and increasing health risks along with structural barriers to quality health care for women. The authors assess three types of health-care programs currently available to women and recommend health-care policy changes aimed at empowering women. Topics in the last section address psychoContemporary Sociology, September 1985, Volume 14, Number 5 This content downloaded from 183.195.251.166 on Sat, 16 Jan 2016 12:34:00 UTC All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
