Joan Acker facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joan Acker
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|---|---|
| Born |
Joan Elise Robinson
March 18, 1924 Illinois, United States
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| Died | June 22, 2016 (aged 92) |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | University of Oregon |
| Known for | gendered organizations, gender inequality as institutionalized |
| Spouse(s) |
Martin Acker
(m. 1948; div. 1967) |
| Scientific career | |
| Influences | Dorothy E. Smith, Heidi Hartmann, Rosabeth Moss Kanter |
Joan Elise Robinson Acker (born March 18, 1924 – died June 22, 2016) was an important American sociologist. A sociologist studies how people live together in groups. Joan Acker was also a researcher, writer, and teacher.
She joined the University of Oregon in 1967. Many people see Acker as a top expert. She helped us understand how gender and social class connect. This was during the time of Second-wave feminism, a period when women fought for more rights.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Joan Acker was born in Illinois in 1924. She went to Hunter College for her first degree. Later, she earned her master's degree from the University of Chicago. She then received her Ph.D. from the University of Oregon.
Her Work and Ideas
Joan Acker is famous for her ideas about race, class, and gender. She believed these three things are deeply connected. She wrote about this in many of her books and articles.
One of her well-known books is Class Questions: Feminist Answers (2006). In it, she explained that race, class, and gender are not separate issues. Instead, she called them "intersecting systems of oppression." This means they work together to create unfairness in society.
Teaching and Leadership
Acker was a professor of sociology at the University of Oregon. She taught there until she retired in 1993. In 1973, she started an important center at the university. It was called the Center for the Study of Women in Society. This center helped people study women's lives and issues.
She also taught at The Swedish Center for Working Life. Joan Acker worked hard to make things fairer for people. From 1981 to 1983, she was part of a special group in Oregon. This group successfully helped raise pay for people in low-wage jobs.
Awards and Recognition
Joan Acker was also an editor for academic journals. These included Gender & Society and Gender, Organisation and Work. Her excellent work earned her several awards. In 1993, she received the Career of Distinguished Scholarship Award. This award came from the American Sociological Association. She also won the Jessie Bernard Award in 1989 for her feminist studies.
Later Life
Joan Acker passed away on June 22, 2016. She was 92 years old. Her ideas continue to help us understand how gender, class, and race shape our world.
