Bernard, Jessie (1903–96)

Bibliographic Data

ID7077641
AuthorsJoyce E Williams, Vicky M Maclean
Year2007
Publication date2007-02-15
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeOTHER
VenueThe Blackwell Encyclopedia of Sociology (JOURNAL)
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/9781405165518.wbeosb017
OpenAlexW4236092806
ISBN9781405165518
LanguageEN
References cited10

Dubbed the “reasonable rebel” by many of her supporters, Jessie Bernard is internationally recognized for her contributions to sociology and to feminist thought (Lipman‐Blumen 1988). She was one of the most productive of female sociologists although her career developed during a time considered by many as hostile to women in the profession (Deegan 1991). She authored over a dozen books, and co‐authored almost that many, as well as over a hundred articles, book chapters, encyclopedia entries, and essays. Her impact on sociology spans more than six decades and includes the areas of marriage and family, gender and sex roles, community studies, the history of the discipline, sociology of knowledge, and social problems and public policy. Her greatest legacy emerged in the last 30 years of her life as reflected in the contributions made to the development of feminist thought and gender scholarship. Trained as a traditional sociologist, Bernard's intellectual journey progressed through social positivism, functionalism, and finally to feminism (Lipman‐Blumen 1979). Over time Bernard became a strong critic of the discipline, its dominant paradigms and masculine biases, and of broader public policies and practices. Bernard helped to found the Society for the Study of Social Problems (SSSP) in 1951, an act of rebellion against the American Sociological Association (ASA) and its timidity in leadership in such issues as poverty, inequality, racism, sexism, McCarthyism, and academic freedom (Bernard 1973). She served as president of SSSP in 1963. Her professional associations, activities, awards, and honors are many. The Jessie Bernard Award for outstanding scholarship in gender studies was established in 1976 and is presented at the annual ASA meetings. It is a living reminder of the debt the field owes to Bernard (Cantor 1988

Feminism · Political science · Psychoanalysis · Racism · Scholarship · Social science · Sociology · Contemporary Sociological Theory and Practice · Gender Studies · Law · Psychology

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