This is the first book-length account of the controversy preceding and following the APA’s decision in 1986 to include a premenstrually related diagnosis in its revised diagnostic manual, DSM III-R. Figert examines why the decision was controversial and consequential in three main domains where people, their interests, and claims to ownership coincide: the Health and Mental Health Domain, the Woman Domain, and the Science Domain.

This collection of focused essays is directed at several levels of students of social problems. It is accessible to the uninitiated, who are not familiar with the constructionist literature, and aimed at those who are not particularly interested in subtle theoretical and empirical issues of concern to academics studying social problems from constructionist perspectives. Some readings focus on the construction of problems by scientists and other professionals; others examine the work of social activists, mass media, and social service personnel. Among the topics included are studies of social inequalities and individual deviance; a comparison of the images of social problems in the United States with those in other countries; and an examination of the importance of politics and power in constructing public images of social problems. Constructionist perspectives have become the leading theoretical approach for sociology and allied fields in studying social problems. Yet constructionists' impact on the teaching of social problems has been far less dramatic. Undergraduate courses on social problems are often subject to a theoretical barrage of eclectic perspectives. Just as the first social problems textbooks did almost a century ago, textbooks continue to present a series of unrelated chapters, each devoted to a particular social problem. Social Problems is an effort at systematic analysis rather than random thought on the subject. Social Problems presents detailed case studies demonstrating how constructionist perspectives can actually be applied to understand particular social problems. While these articles can be read alone, the editors have organized these selections to correspond with the chapter topics in the second edition of Donileen Loseke's Thinking about Social Problems, an accessible introduction to constructionist approaches. At the same time, some instructors who use this edited collection might wish to provide their own mix to the selection process. Many of the contributions make multiple points and so reasonably could be used to illustrate other basic texts or classic studies in the field of social problems. Donileen R. Loseke is professor of sociology at the University of South Florida. Joel Best is professor and chair, Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice, University of Delaware. He has also served as an advisory editor for Aldine in the area of social problems.

“The Hormone Myth is a bracing, accurate breath of fresh air. It turns conventional wisdom about hormones on its head, and provides a far more liberating view of women’s health than what we’ve all been taught.” —Christiane Northrup, MD, author of Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom​ “Is it that time of month?” “Is your biological clock ticking?” "You're so emotional lately—are you going through menopause?" We’ve all heard it before. From the moody menstrual monster to the menopausal maniac, the idea that women become raving lunatics when their hormones fluctuate is firmly entrenched in American culture—anddeeply fueled by the media. But where exactly did this stereotype come from? How has it hurt women? And how can we move past it once and for all? In this breakthrough book, Robyn Stein DeLuca fearlessly exposes and debunks pervasive myths about women’s hormones, and reveals how flawed, outdated research and sexism have joined forces throughout history to keep women “in their place.” With a revolutionary exploration of women’s hormonal lives­­­­­­­—from menstruation to childbirth to menopause—DeLuca shines a much-needed light on the lies that have impacted women. Now more than ever, it’s time to resist the myth that women are ruled by their hormones. It’s time for women to take charge of their lives. And it’s time for women to own their emotions in a healthy and realistic way.

A groundbreaking exploration of a debilitating disorder that’s underdiagnosed and misunderstood. Most days, Shalene Gupta was the person she’d always aspired to be. She was hardworking, excelled at work, and had a long-term boyfriend who she desperately loved. Then, every month like clockwork, it all came crashing down in fits of rage and inconsolable sorrow. Work became meaningless, and she struggled to get through the day. The lows were subterranean. After years of struggling to get an answer from doctors, Shalene learned she was one of millions who live with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), a severe form of PMS. The physical and mental effects of this disorder are undeniable, but for decades some doctors didn’t even consider PMDD a real condition. How could so many people be suffering at the hands of a chronic condition that doesn’t even exist? The Cycle uncovers a hidden epidemic, delivering the definitive portrait of a widespread chronic illness most people haven’t even heard of. From a historical overview of feminist debates, to on-the-ground interviews and a searing critique of menstrual stigma, Shalene Gupta lays out how disregard for this disorder has left too many people scrambling for appropriate healthcare. Deeply researched, movingly intimate, and refreshingly hopeful, this book is essential reading for any curious reader, especially those navigating a world ill-equipped to support their health.

This truly monumental work maps the literature of women's studies, covering thousands of titles and Web sites in 19 subject areas published between 1985 and 1999. Intended as a reference and collection development tool, this bibliography provides a guide for women's studies information for each title along with a detailed, often evaluative review. The annotations summarize each work's content, its importance or contribution to women's studies, and its relationship to other titles on the subject. Core titles and titles that are out of print are noted, and reviews indicate which titles are appropriate as texts or supplemental texts. This definitive guide to the literature of women's studies is a must-purchase for academic libraries that support women's studies programs, and it is a useful addition to any academic or public library that endeavors to represent the field. A team of subject specialists has taken on the immense task of documenting publications in the area of women's studies in the last decades of the 20th century. The result is this truly monumental work, which maps the field, covering thousands of titles and Web sites in 19 subject areas published between 1985 and 1999. Intended as a reference and collection development tool, this bibliography provides a guide for women's studies information for each title along with a detailed, often evaluative review. The annotations summarize each work's content, its importance or contribution to women's studies, and its relationship to other titles on the subject. Most reviews cite and describe similar and contrasting titles, substantially extending the coverage. Core titles and titles that are out of print are noted, and reviews indicate which titles are appropriate as texts or supplemental texts. Taking up where the previous volume by Loeb, Searing, and Stineman left off, this is the definitive guide to the literature of women's studies. It is a must purchase for academic libraries that support women's studies programs; and a welcome addition to any academic or public library that endeavors to represent the field.

A feminist and Foucauldian analysis of a variety of emerging gendered discourses.

In this book, Menstrual Cycle, we cover certain interesting aspects of the physiology and endocrinology of the female body, as well as clinical diagnosis and treatment of various gynecological diseases and disorders in women of reproductive age. In this way, scholars, postgraduates, students, and others will be able to become acquainted with modern scientific research into menstrual cycle. For others, this book will be the impetus for further research in this area.

This international volume offers new perspectives on social and psychological aspects of the complex dynamic of depression. The twenty-one contributors from thirteen countries - Australia, Canada, Finland, Germany, Haiti, India, Israel, Nepal, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Scotland, and the United States - represent contexts with very different histories, political and economic structures, and gender role disparities.Authors rely on Silencing the Self theory, which details the negative psychological effects when individuals silence themselves in close relationships and the importance of the social context in precipitating depression. Specific patterns of thought about how to achieve closeness in relationships (self-silencing schema) are known to predict depression. This book breaks new ground by demonstrating that the linkage of depressive symptoms with self-silencing occurs across a range of cultures. We offer a new view of gender differences in depression situated in the formation and consequences of self-silencing, including differing motivational aims, norms of masculinity and femininity, and the broader social context of gender inequality.The book offers evidence regarding why women's depression is more wide-spread than men's and why the treatment of depression lies in understanding that a person's individual psychology is inextricably related to the social world and close relationships. Authors examine not only gender differences in depression but also related aspects of mental and physical illness, including treatments specific to women. Several chapters describe the transformative possibilities of community-driven movements for disadvantaged women that support healing through a recovery of voice, and describe the need for systemic and structural changes to counter violations of human rights as a means of reducing women's risk of depression. Bringing the work of these researchers together in one collection furthers international dialogue about critical social factors that affect the rising rates of depression around the globe.

"This is the first book-length account of the controversy preceding and following the APA’s decision in 1986 to include a premenstrually related diagnosis in its revised diagnostic manual, DSM III-R. Figert examines why the decision was controversial and consequential in three main domains where people, their interests, and claims to ownership coincide: the Health and Mental Health Domain, the Woman Domain, and the Science Domain."--Provided by publisher.