Signs Journal: A Legacy of Feminist Scholarship and Academic Change
Founded in 1975, Signs emerged as a pivotal force during the early development of women's studies. Born from the momentum of the women's liberation movement of the late 1960s and 1970s, the journal was designed to be more than just a publication; it was envisioned as an agent for change within the academic world.
The name "Signs" was chosen with specific intent: the editors wanted the journal to "represent" the rigor and originality of women's studies while "pointing" toward new, unexplored directions for feminist scholarship.
[ไม่มีภาพประกอบ]Key Facts
- Founded: 1975, rooted in the women's liberation movement.
- Primary Goals: To publish global scholarship on women and maintain an interdisciplinary approach.
- Institutional Model: Rotates its institutional home approximately every five years to avoid academic codification.
- Current Home: Northeastern University.
- Current Editor-in-Chief: Suzanna Danuta Walters.
Foundational Purpose and Philosophy
From its inaugural editorial, Signs established two primary objectives. First, it sought to publish new scholarship regarding women both within the United States and globally. Second, it committed to being interdisciplinary—drawing from multiple academic branches—to allow readers to grasp the totality of women's lives and the realities they inhabit.
Former editor-in-chief Ruth-Ellen Boetcher Joeres described the journal as "insurgent," noting that its grassroots origins created a unique paradox: the challenge of remaining an agent for social change while being respected within the traditional academy. Joeres expressed the hope that Signs would continue to transform the academy by retaining these activist roots.
Evolution and Modern Direction
To prevent the tendency of academic institutions to "codify" or limit the scope of scholarship, Signs employs a unique strategy of rotating its institutional home roughly every five years. It is currently based at Northeastern University under the leadership of Suzanna Danuta Walters, a Professor of Sociology and Director of Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies.
Core Concerns for the Future
Editor-in-Chief Suzanna Danuta Walters has outlined five core concerns to guide the journal's current trajectory:
- Integrating women's studies with gender, sexuality, and queer studies.
- Increasing the focus on racial and ethnic differences.
- Re-emphasizing transdisciplinarity (the integration of perspectives across different disciplines).
- Maintaining a focus on broad, "big questions" regarding gender and sexuality to avoid an overly narrow scope.
- Expanding the journal's digital presence.
Historical Analysis and Academic Impact
The significance of Signs is further analyzed in Kelly Coogan-Gehr's 2011 work, The Geopolitics of the Cold War and Narratives of Inclusion: Excavating a Feminist Archive. Coogan-Gehr identifies Signs as a "premier academic feminist journal" and uses it as a case study to challenge standard narratives of how the feminist field was formed.
She argues that traditional histories often focus exclusively on the radical movements of the 1960s, neglecting the influence that Cold War-era changes in higher education had on the development of academic feminism.
| Aspect | Founding Era (1975) | Modern Era (Current) |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Driver | Women's liberation movement | Gender, sexuality, and queer studies |
| Academic Focus | Interdisciplinary scholarship on women | Transdisciplinary, racial, and ethnic difference |
| Institutional Status | Grassroots insurgent | Rotating institutional homes (currently Northeastern University) |
| Key Objective | Represent and point to new directions | Digital expansion and substantive reckoning with queer studies |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Signs rotate its institutional home?
The journal rotates its home roughly every five years to avoid the academic tendency to "codify" and limit scholarship, ensuring it remains flexible and independent.
What is the meaning behind the name "Signs"?
The name refers to the ability of signs to "represent" and "point." The founders wanted the journal to represent the rigor of women's studies and point toward new directions for feminist research.
Who is the current editor-in-chief of Signs?
The current editor-in-chief is Suzanna Danuta Walters, who is also a Professor of Sociology and the Director of Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at Northeastern University.
How does Kelly Coogan-Gehr view the history of the journal?
Coogan-Gehr views Signs as a premier academic feminist journal and argues that its formation was influenced not only by radical movements but also by changes in higher education produced by the Cold War.
What are the current "core concerns" of the journal?
The current priorities include reckoning with queer and sexuality studies, focusing on racial and ethnic differences, maintaining transdisciplinarity, addressing broad questions of gender, and increasing its digital presence.