Janet Freedman

Areas of Expertise

Women’s Studies; Feminism; Libraries and Social Change; Women and Leadership

Email: janfree@brandeis.edu

Current Project

An investigation of women and small groups, with a  focus on consciousness raising groups and groups that succeeded these. I will explore how such groups differ or offer continuity with the structure and function of consciousness raising, and consider if it might be useful to revive the c.r. process as a way to revitalize a critical, activist feminist movement.

Biography

Janet Freedman served as Dean of Library Services and Professor of Education at University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. She chaired the Department of Education, directed the Women’s Studies Program and co-directed the university’s Center for Jewish Culture.

Her interest in exploring the influence of consciousness raising grows from her own efforts to implement the goal of that process: to link personal experience to meaningful professional and social action.
 
Janet initiated and participated in many projects  to advance the role of libraries as vehicles for social engagement and change, and to create services for women on campus and in the community. She sought to apply a feminist model of leadership to her work as a Dean and faculty member at UMass Dartmouth, promoting a respectful, diverse campus community, advocating for the personal and professional growth of staff  and encouraging the active participation of students in shaping their own learning.

She has learned much from community voluntarism, including work with the New Bedford Women’s Center and Jewish Federation of Greater New Bedford, and tutoring in area schools.

Education

Ed.D., Boston University

M.S., Simmons College

B.S., Simmons College

Representative Publications

Freedman, Janet. “Always a Librarian.” in The Changing Culture of Libraries, edited by Renee Feinberg, 94-102. Jefferson, NC: McFarland Press, 2001.

Freedman, Janet. “Women’s Centers/Women’s Studies Programs: Collaborating for Feminist Activism,” with Juli Parker. Womens Studies Quarterly 27 (1999): 114-121.