Some 600 international scholars have contributed to this four-volume set addressing the concerns of women and the theory and practice of global feminism. The work is geared to both scholars and adult readers. While every volume contains a comprehensive alphabetical list of articles found in the encyclopedia, only the first volume contains a listing of the articles organized in the following categories: arts and literature; culture and communication; ecology and environment; economy and development; education; health, reproduction, and sexuality; history and philosophy of feminism; households and families; politics and the state; religion and spirituality; science and technology; violence and peace; and women's studies. Entries on individual women and nations are excluded their coverage incorporated into the topical entries. Unusual entries include authored by the most capable Carole Adams, author of ; , a subject some feminists worry will vie for academic funding with women's studies; Menarche, the onset of menstruation; and Television, a medium intent on heaping responsibility for body and family on feminine shoulders. Entry length varies from a paragraph to several pages, and all end with references and further readings. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)