Journal of lesbian studies

Date: 17 May 2000

From: Women's Studies Association feminist oral history project

By: Hyman, Prudence Janet, 1943-

Reference: OHInt-0556-05

Description: Prudence Hyman, known as Prue, was born in Harrow, Middlesex, England in 1943. Talks about family relationships, importance of liberal Jewish culture in family life, Jewish Society at Oxford and father's death. Describes enjoyment of academia, Somerville College, Oxford, and involvement in the Oxford University Liberal Club, politics and sport. Describes first job as statistician, a major relationship, and emigrating to New Zealand in 1969 to work at Victoria University, Wellington. Describes development of her feminist consciousness, involvement in Women's Studies at Victoria and the Women's Studies Association, and awareness of links between ethnic, class and gender discrimination. Comments on importance of feminist literature, discusses integrating her Jewish side with feminism, lesbianism and identity issues. Mentions important feminist influences, including Phillida Bunkle, Jacqui Matthews, Beryl Hughes and Janet Holmes. Talks about Victoria University's Economics Department staff's response to feminism, and establishing a feminist economics course. Discusses feminist analysis of power, pay equity, race, class and gender issues, and the market view of women's traditional workplaces. Describes work at Ministry of Women's Affairs in 1989-1990. Mentions work on pay equity with Margaret Wilson and Heather Simpson. Talks about getting feminist economics into accepted economics journals, and her recent research on lesbian issues and economics, published in 'Journal of Lesbian Studies'. Comments on benefits of feminism and on how women are still disadvantaged. Mentions that the issue of how we value work needs to change. Discusses the state of women's studies and lesbian studies at universities and the women's movement now. Talks about involvement in many organisations. Other - Includes two photocopied photographs of Prue Hyman. Interviewer(s) - Jill Abigail Accompanying material - CV and biographical information form Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-008535, OHC-008536 Quantity: 2 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 Electronic document(s) - abstract. 1 interview(s). 2 Hours Duration. Physical Description: Textual files - Microsoft word Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-2653, OHDL-001002. 2 b&w headshot photographs of Prue Hyman