Research

Major Works:

Maxine Baca Zinn has written and co-written many publications, articles, books and reviews. Some of her articles include:
"Nurturing Graduate Students: Integrative Scholarship Through Textbook Projects,Feminism and Family Studies for a New Century,The Missing Safety Net and Families: A Progressive Critique of the New Welfare Legislation,Labor Force Participation Among Mexican and Mexican American Women in the Rural and Urban Southwest: A Comparative Study. "Feminism, Race, and The Politics of Family Values," "Family and Society in American History""Social Research on Chicanos: Its Development and Directions," among others.

The following are some of her book chapters:
Tradition and Transition in Mexican-Origin Families,in Minority Families in the United States: A Multicultural Perspective, Economic Restructuring and Systems of Inequality at Century's End. Her books include: Through The Prism of Difference: A Sex and Gender Reader, Race, Class, and Gender: Common Bonds, Different Voices, Women of Color in U.S. Society, and The Reshaping of America: Social Consequences of the Changing Economy.

Books include:
Through The Prism of Difference: A Sex and Gender Reader,Race, Class, and Gender: Common Bonds, Different Voices. In Conflict and Order, Understanding Society. Social Consequences of the Changing Economy.





Maxine Baca Zinn was featured in the Feb. 27 issue of The Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education in an article titled "Latina Feminism: Embracing Past and Future." Where she is described and incorporated as being part of a wave of feminism building on past strengths and embracing newfound empowerment.
Maxine Baca Zinn specializes in different topics such as the family, race and gender issues. Within these topics she explores the distinct aspects of societies structure and the impact on such issues. She has written about the structure of society and gender relations, and their impact particularly focusing in Chicano families. She believes that there should be a reconstruction of family (relationship) by utilizing race in a good way rather than a cultural difference that sets people apart. But more like another contributing factor of the way society is structured. She believes that racial preconceived notions establish a type of system in which the way the family is structured can be more or less acceptable for some members of the family and of society. Therefore, as those misconceptions or preconceived ideas diminish so does the acceptance of family members in different families into society. Particularly focusing on families of different ethnic backgrounds. As well as the distinct labor structures of men and women also within different communities. These are some of her many well known ideas, also incorporated into her writings.
Probably one of her most famous books is Diversity in Families, a book which awarded her a 2003 William Holmes McGuffey Award. The book touches up on race, class, gender, as well as sexuality and how these contribute to different familial relationships thus creating diversity in families. The book questions the family arrangement, as well as the structure and the way it works. By doing so, the book exposes all the notions, judgments, ideals, stereotypes etc...Also talks about the influences of society and its force/impact on the family shape "form".
Another one of her well known works is Gender Through the Prism of Difference, which is a book that presents a contemporary views of gender, emphasizing on race, class, age, diversity, globalization etc Includes topics such as: preconceived notions of masculinity, Islam/ Muslim women, perceptions of race and "blackness". It presents a contemporary view by incorporating articles about men and women, and analyzing and how gender is "socially constructed" and how these factors contribute to our experiences. Therefore, making a connection through the lived experience as something that affects the way we perceive things.



References:

Maxine Baca Zinn, Pierrette Hondagneu-Sotelo, and Michael A. Messner (eds.), Through The Prism of Difference: A Sex and Gender Reader (Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 1997, Second Edition Retitled Gender Through the Prism of Difference, 2000).
-http://www.oup.com/us/catalog/general/subject/Sociology/RaceEthnicity/~~/dmlldz11c2EmY2k9OTc4MDE5NTE2NzY0MQ==

Maxine Baca Zinn and D. Stanley Eitzen, Diversity in American Families (New York: Harper and Row, 1987; Second Edition, retitled Diversity in Families, 1990; Third Edition, 1993, Fourth Edition, 1996; Fifth Edition, 1999). The fifth edition was published by Addison-Wesley-Longman; Sixth Edition 2002. The sixth edition is published by Allyn and Bacon.
-http://www.pearsoned.co.uk/Bookshop/detail.asp?item=100000000071633