The evolution of feminist organizations : an organizational study / by Diane Susan Metzendorf.

Format:

Book

Manuscript

Microformat

Thesis/Dissertation

Author/Creator:

Metzendorf, Diane Susan.

Contributor:

Dore, Martha, advisor.

University of Pennsylvania.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Penn dissertations--Social Work.

Social Work--Penn dissertations.

Local Subjects:

Penn dissertations--Social Work.

Social Work--Penn dissertations.

Physical Description:

vii, 302 leaves ; 29 cm

Production:

1990.

Summary:

This study examines changes in feminist organizations founded in the early seventies as alternatives to traditional, bureaucratic human service organizations. Battered women's shelters, rape crisis centers and women's health and counseling centers are examples of feminist organizations linked to the Women's Movement. At inception, these organizations, reflecting feminist principles, were designed alternatively in their structure and functioning.

In-depth case studies systematically examine the life cycles of 15 feminist organizations identifying, individually and collectively, changes, over ten or more years, along the organizational dimensions of goals, authority structure, division of labor, formalization, personal relationships and rewards.

From June, 1989 to January, 1990, the researcher examined archival and current documentation as well as interviewed former and current organizational leaders of 15 feminist organizations in the five-county Philadelphia area. The major finding is that over time, these feminist organizations have evolved into bureaucratic structures while retaining their overarching feminist principles along certain identified dimensions.

One implication drawn from the findings is that current managers of feminist organizations do, in fact, practice feminist management which attempts to integrate their commitment to feminist principles within bureaucratic organizational structures.

Notes:

Thesis (D.S.W. in Social Work)--School of Social Work, University of Pennsylvania, 1990.

Includes bibliography.

Local Notes:

University Microfilms order no.: 91-08048.

OCLC:

187461723