Encyclopedia of Women in Today's World

This is neither a biographical nor a historical encyclopedia, with coverage starting in 2000 and encompassing women's contemporary status in 15 categories: "Activism," "Arts," "Business," "Countries," "Education," "Environment," "Government," "Health," "Media," "Religion," "Science," "Sports," "Sexualities," "War," and "Women's Lives." "Signal Biographies" within categories are representative; there is no attempt to be comprehensive. Access to categories is by the "Reader's Guide," but volumes are organized alphabetically. There are 1000 entries ranging from 600 to 2500 words. Emphasis is a bit skewed toward popular culture, and though international, the United States predominates. This may be desirable since the main competitor is the scholarly Oxford Encyclopedia of Women in World History (2008, four vols.) and organization contrasts with the other contender, Greenwood Encyclopedia of Women's Issues Worldwide (2003, six vols.), organized geographically. The 400 contributors are feminist, women's studies, or gender studies scholars. The editors are eminent: Stange (women's studies, Skidmore Coll.; Hard Grass), Carol K. Oyster (psychology, Univ. of Wisconsin; Gun Women), and Jane E. Sloan (media, Rutgers Univ.; Reel Women). The bibliography, or "Resource Guide," is eight pages, half websites. Film and video titles are critiqued in the entries and indexed by name. Photographs are good, but a few charts or graphs would have improved the coverage. BOTTOM LINE As a women's encyclopedia, this is not comprehensive, but high school and college students will like it, especially its digital version, Multimedia Encyclopedia of Women in Today's World, which will incorporate annual digital editions of 250 entries for $200. The electronic version will have 100 video clips and color photos. A 30-day free trial is advertised.—Janice Dunham, John Jay Coll. Lib., CUNY