Women's Studies Search Strategies

We have recently updated our subject headings in order to insure user-centered community and scholarly access to our women's studies materials. However, location of primary source material can still be cumbersome. Here are some suggested search strategies.

To locate women's studies materials in special collections, do a basic search in PantherCat. In the "Search By" box, select "Keyword (and, or, not)" for the most comprehensive output in this subject area. In the "Search For" box, type in the suggested search:

"wom? or feminis? or sex? or gender"

By using a question mark at the end of the search terms, you will be able to search for all terms that contain the root word (i.e. "femini?" will find "femininity", "feminine", "feminist," and "feminism"). The search will help locate materials on the "Woman Movement" of the mid 19th cenutry, as well as the "Women's Movement" of the 1960s and 70s; sex, sexuality and gender as distinct and overlapping historical concepts should be accessable through this search.

Select "Special Collections" in the "Quick Limit" box, and click the "Search" button.

See example below:

Other Suggestions:

For "second wave" periodicals from the 1960s-1980s, search for

“femini? and periodicals” or “women? and periodicals”

Subject headings for these periodicals include:
Women--Periodicals.
Women’s rights--Periodicals.
Women--Social and moral questions--Periodicals.
Feminism and literature--Periodicals.
Feminism--Periodicals.
Lesbianism--Periodicals.
Underground newspaper collection.
Indian women--North America--Periodicals.
Racism--Periodicals.

Also see the following works from this era:
Notes from the second year
Notes from the third year