Women, Men, and Society (5th Edition)

Rating:
Summary: Some caveats
Review: A well researched book, but tendentious. I taught that book and I had trouble trying to explain to my students that most of the homeless people are men. The confusion of my students was the result from the way that Renzetti and Curran presented the issue (See Box 7.1 "Gender and Homelessness" p.213, Fourth Edition). I simply found disingenuous their statistical treatment of homeless and gender because a few pages later (p.237) Renzetti and Curran criticize the use of their reasoning when they dispute some analyses of the relationship between gender and delinquency. Then they pointed out that the fact that the growth rate of delinquency is greater among women does not mean that more women are turning into crime because the number of women committing crimes is proportionally smaller than that of men. I found this double standard disappointing because the relationship between gender and homelessness is important for understanding how the gender role of men is a social problem. Rather than focusing on the structural aspects of gender, sometimes the valuable work done by Renzetti and Curran get lost because a rather simplistic picture of the issues.

Rating:
Summary: Some caveats
Review: This is one of the most comprehensive gender studies books I have come across. Renzetti and Curran have explored virtually every avenue from sociologic/feminist/historical perspectives to childhood socialization and communication, to higher education, employment, crime, spirituality, health, government and social issues. I picked up the book to read the family/domestic violence section and could not put it down. This book should be a requirement for women's studies and gender studies students. Renzetti has done a great deal of groundbreaking work in same-sex battering and this title was great exposure to her other efforts. A remarkable researcher! I found this book at the library, and after reading 1/2 of it, I returned it, drove straight home and ordered it, so I could mark it up. It is a valuable piece of research and a work that I will reference for years to come. I wish I had found this book 4 years ago while I was an undergraduate student!

Rating:
Summary: Every Women's Studies student should read this book
Review: This is one of the most comprehensive gender studies books I have come across. Renzetti and Curran have explored virtually every avenue from sociologic/feminist/historical perspectives to childhood socialization and communication, to higher education, employment, crime, spirituality, health, government and social issues. I picked up the book to read the family/domestic violence section and could not put it down. This book should be a requirement for women's studies and gender studies students. Renzetti has done a great deal of groundbreaking work in same-sex battering and this title was great exposure to her other efforts. A remarkable researcher! I found this book at the library, and after reading 1/2 of it, I returned it, drove straight home and ordered it, so I could mark it up. It is a valuable piece of research and a work that I will reference for years to come. I wish I had found this book 4 years ago while I was an undergraduate student!