Feminism and Family Studies

Three basic tenets of feminism (the belief that women are exploited, devalued, and oppressed; a commitment to changing the conditions of women; and the adoption of a perspective critical of intellectual traditions) are discussed. At times these principles are at odds with traditional science. Therefore, we address the question: “Can one be both a scientist and a feminist?” and answer in the affirmative. A review of a sample of JMF articles over the past 20 years shows some substantive but little methodological evidence of feminist scholarship. Analysis of NCFR board composition, and editors and authors in NCFR journals over the same time period reveals a pattern of underrepresentation of women. Scholars in the profession, ourselves included, are called upon to integrate feminist scholarship into the field. The degree to which NCFR adopts and applies gender-neutral standards is the degree to which achievement of feminist goals will be possible.