Women's studies emerged as a result of a strong sense of commitment among female thinkers. This impulse, transformed by several decades of pioneering and high quality academic work in this area, remains undiminished. The goal to improve the status of women in society, including that of women scholars themselves, links the generations of feminist thinkers. The book gives, by means of case studies, an overview of historical developments within the women's movement as well as examples of the various approaches and methodologies used in different academic fields for research in women's studies. It aims to make a contribution to the growing body of knowledge on the status of different groups of women in society, on gender relations and on changes in images of women. This text is suitable for academics and students in women's and gender studies in the social sciences and the humanities.