Core Women’s Studies Databases

Though journal articles covering women’s issues and feminist research can be found in resources from virtually all subject areas, the databases below are often the best places to start for Women’s Studies courses and topics:

Three EBSCO databases:

• Academic Search Complete: large and multidisciplinary, includes major women’s studies journals and magazines; includes lots of full-text articles.
• Gender Studies Database: Uses authors' own keywords, covers more gender-related issues than any of the other databases, but not always consistent.
• SOCIndex: Sociological Abstract's main competitor; includes more popular titles, good for psychosocial issues.

TIP: to search all three EBSCO databases at once, just select any one to begin with, and once connected click on the "Choose Databases" link at the top of the search screen.

• Sociological Abstracts: includes important scholarly/academic women’s studies journals.
• Google Scholar: a simple and powerful way to broadly search for scholarly articles, reports and books. If if you are a novice searcher, however, it may not be easy to decipher the list of results. For off-campus use set your Scholar Preferences OR use the Concordia VPN.
• Contemporary Women’s Issues: It can be difficult to find relevant results using this database; try limiting your search to "Title and Enhanced Title".

Canada & Québec: News & Academic Sources

For news, magazine and journal articles of Canadian origin or covering Canadian subjects (but not limited to women’s or feminist issues), start with these:

• ProQuest Combined Canadian: indexes a wide variety of Canadian sources, from newspapers, transcripts and newsletters, to academic journals and theses.
• Canadian Periodical Index (CPI-Q): newspapers, magazines, journals.
• Factiva: Full text of international newspapers, transcripts and newswires.

En français

• Érudit: academic journal articles, theses, books and book chapters - mostly from Québec.
• Eureka.cc: Full text access to Québec daily newspapers.
• Repère: magazine and academic journal articles, mostly from Québec.

Related Databases & Research Guides

Below is a sampling of my top picks of additional useful sources for women's studies:

• Alternative Press Index: citations to articles from non-mainstream sources. Topics include feminism, ecology, gay and lesbian, indigenous, minorities, anarchism.
• Communication Abstracts: the major database for scholarly mass media studies.
• PsycINFO: the major database for psychological research.

Multi-subject database picks:

• Francis: international scope, though mostly English and French.
• Web of Science: includes social sciences, humanities, arts. Offers citation searching.
• Social Sciences Abstracts and Humanities Abstracts

Specialized database picks:

• First Nations Periodical Index
• Index Islamicus
• Bibliography of Asian Studies

NOTE: See also Aboriginal sources and Research Guides in all other subject areas.

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Statistics & Government Information

The sources below can be good starting points for locating local and international statistics, government and country information.

• Finding data on women: a guide to major sources at Statistics Canada
• Demographic Data and Market & Consumer Data [from the Business Reseach Guide]
• Country Profiles & Reports
• Government Publications, Statistics and Law & Crime
• IN PRINT:The Penguin atlas of women of the world

NOTE: If none of these sources fit the bill or if you have trouble using them, contact me for more suggestions.

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Encyclopedias: Background & Context

Encyclopedias can provide that all-important background and context for research papers. Here is a sampling:

Online:

• Encyclopedia of Gender and Society (2009)
• Blackwell Encyclopedia of Sociology (2008): Great coverage of feminist, women’s and gender studies topics. Start with a simple keyword search then browse by Subject or Key Topic.
• International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences (2008)
• International Encyclopedia of the Social & Behavioral Sciences (2001)
• International Encyclopedia of Men and Masculinities (2007)
• Encyclopedia of Race and Racism (2008)
• glbtq: Encyclopedia of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer culture

In Print (on the Reference Shelves at Webster Library):

• Battleground: women, gender and sexuality (2008)
• Encyclopedia of Sex and Gender (2007) (this tool is directly relevant to women's studies and NOT to be confused with a recent online tool of the same name, published in 2003 by Kluwer press, and more appropriate for anthropolgy than women’s studies)
• The Women's Movement Today: an Encyclopedia of Third Wave Feminism (2006) volume 2 consists of 'primary documents' of the movement
• Routledge International Encyclopedia of Women: Global Issues and Knowledge (2000)
• Encyclopedia of Feminist Theories (2000)
• Girl Culture: An Encyclopedia (2008)
• Encyclopedia of Gay and Lesbian Popular Culture (2008)
• Routledge International Encyclopedia of Gay Culture (2006)

NOTE: there are many, many more encyclopedias or other reference sources that may be appropriate, depending on your topic -- See our Online Reference: Encyclopedias guide or contact me for help.

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DISSERTATIONS AND THESES

• ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Full Text: Over two million doctoral dissertations and masters theses (90% from North America) published since 1861, although most of the full text starts from 1997.

NOTE: See also Concordia University Libraries' guide on How to find theses.

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HISTORICAL & PRIMARY SOURCES

Articles about Women's History

In addition to the Core and Canadian article databases listed above:

• America History & Life covers Canada as well as the U.S,
• Women's history is also covered in the Core and Canadian databases above.

Primary Sources

• Defining Gender, 1450-1910. Pamphlets, diaries, periodicals, letters, poetry, receipt books, and conduct and advice literature. Essays and scholarly overviews support study and research in gender, leisure, and consumer culture.
• British and Irish Women's Letters and Diaries (Alexander Street Press Collection)
• North American Women's Letters and Diaries (Alexander Street Press Collection)
• Women and Social Movements in the United States (Alexander Street Press Collection)
• Women Writers Online (1400-1850)

NOTE: For more information on historical sources see the History Research Guide.

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HELP: Can't find the articles?

Accessing the actual full text of the articles or other documents you located in the databases above can be a challenge. contact me for help or take a look at this helpful guide or quick instructional video:

• Help Guide: How to Find it @ Concordia (includes quick instructional video)
• Find it @ Concordia not working or not available? Try doing it yourself with the help of this video: Searching for Journals and E-journals

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