| This thesis argues that feminist oral history interviews offer a deeply enriching learning process by which we can gain great insights into the lives of women and others who have been ignored by traditional historical accounts. The author believes that because of the interdisciplinary nature of women's studies; the mission to empower the voices of a wide range of women; the commitment to understanding the complexity of women's lives as well as to the compassionate treatment of those who they study, and the access to a large number of potentially excellent feminist interviewers (women's studies students), women's studies practitioners and programs are the perfect hosts for oral history collections and projects. In addition to describing the feminist practices of oral history interviewing the thesis includes a "how-to" manual for programs that wish to set up their own oral history projects or collections, as well as a workshop to train interviewers. By conducting, collecting, and archiving oral history interviews, women's studies programs and departments can give women a venue to share their stories and insights with others. |
