Women economists - New Zealand

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

Date: 28 Nov 2000

From: Jewish women in education oral history project

By: Hyman, Prudence Janet, 1943-

Reference: OHInt-0715/2

Description: Prudence Janet (Prue) Hyman born Middlesex, near London, 1943. Recalls living in London first 20 years of life. Describes the place of Judaism in her family. Discusses aspects of Liberal Judaism and talks about several of the Jewish observances practiced in her home during the years she was growing up. Refers to own drift away from the religious side of Judaism after leaving Oxford University. Recalls that after father's death, mother worked for the Liberal Jewish Movement and this employment continued for the rest of her working life. Talks about school life and discusses aspects of the experience of being Jewish at these schools. Talks about the place of Zionism in her upbringing and refers to her later views about Israel. Talks about her life at Oxford University and her involvement in political activities with the Liberal Party, debating, and in the campaign to get women admitted to the Oxford Union. Gives reasons for coming to New Zealand. Refers to her lesbian sexual orientation, noting that her sexuality and her work are linked and cannot discuss the one without the other. Describes aspects of her early years in the Economics Department (Victoria University) and her present designation as Associate Professor. Refers to the impact of the `second wave of feminism' from the early 1970s and to the origins of her involvement in Women's Studies at Victoria. Refers to Phillidda Bunkle and Beryl Hughes. Describes some of her early research in Feminist Economics and notes that since the mid 1970s Feminist Economics has been the focus of much of her research. Refers to the publication of her book `Women and Economics in New Zealand: Feminist Perspective (1994). Explains not becoming involved in the Jewish community while being involved in some Jewish debates and issues. Recalls renewed interest in Jewishness in the mid 1980s and refers to some Jewish lesbian feminists from the USA whose ideas and writings influenced her. Gives background to her joining the Liberal shul. Discusses work undertaken as a Feminist Economist outside the university and aspects of the two years she worked at the Ministry of Women's Affairs. Access Contact - see oral history librarian Interviewer(s) - Ann Beaglehole Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-011701-011702 Quantity: 2 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 Electronic document(s). 1.50 Hours and minutes Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-4077; OHDL-000106.