Women in the Museum

<p>The number of women working in museum settings has grown exponentially since the start of the twentieth century. <i>Women in the Museum </i>explores the professional lives of the sector’s female workforce today and examines the challenges they face working in what was, until recently, a male-dominated field. </p><p>Drawing on testimony gathered from surveys, focus groups, and interviews with female museum professionals, the book examines the nature of gender bias in the profession, as well as women’s varied responses to it. In doing so, it clarifies how women’s work in museums differs from men’s and reveals the entrenched nature of gender bias in the museum workplace. Offering a clear argument as to why museums must create, foster, and protect an equitable playing field, the authors incorporate a gender equity agenda for individuals, institutions, graduate programs, and professional associations.</p><p>Written by experienced museum professionals, <i>Women in the Museum </i>is the first book to examine the topic in depth. It is useful reading for students and academics in the fields of museum studies and gender studies, as well as museum professionals and gender equality advocates.</p> <p>Foreword </p><p>Introduction: A Message from the Authors</p><p>Prologue: The Myths</p><p>1. Why Gender (Still) Matters in a Post-Feminist World</p><p>2. Founders, Philanthropists, Volunteers, and Professionals: The Historical Impact of Women on Museums</p><p>3. The Face in the Mirror: A Portrait of Women Working in Museums Today</p><p>4. Still the Boys’ Club: Gender Equity and the Board of Trustees</p><p>5. Death by a Thousand Cuts: How Stereotypes Affect Women in the Museum Workplace</p><p>6. The Thought Bubble Over Our Heads: Language and Stereotyping</p><p>7. Women at Work in MuseumLand: What and How in Their Own Words</p><p>8. Museum Women and Family Ties </p><p>9. Single at Work</p><p>10. What Makes a Great Museum Workplace for Women</p><p>11. What the Next Generation of Women Want (and Expect) from Their Museum Careers</p><p>12. Groundhog Day: The Women in Museum Time Loop</p><p>Epilogue: Gender, Power, Influence, and Responsibility </p><p>Gender Equity Agenda</p><p>Additional Resources for Readers</p>