Feminist Studies publishes research and criticism that address theoretical issues and offer analyses of interest to feminist scholars across disciplines. Although many, if not most, of the articles we publish draw on the methodology of a single discipline, we especially encourage scholars to pursue truly interdisciplinary research and research methodologies that not only showcase but integrate contributions from multiple disciplines.

Submissions must be 6000–10,500 words, including footnotes.

The Feminist Studies collective publishes review essays that examine a cluster of important books or films on a general theme with the aim of providing our interdisciplinary audience an engaged overview of developments in feminist scholarship. Our review essays are original pieces in their own right that not only review important works but offer a sustained argument about theoretical trends and new research developments that would be of interest to our diverse readership.

Although we often commission review essays, we also welcome unsolicited proposals. Such proposals should identify the books or films to be reviewed, state why these books are important and deserve consideration as a cluster, and briefly present the concepts or questions that will be developed in the essay. (If a book has only minor merits, it should not be included in the review at all.) Along with the proposal, please submit a writing sample and a CV/resume.

Proposals will be discussed by the editorial collective at one of its regular meetings (held three times a year). On the basis of this discussion at the board meeting, the editors will either commission the review essay, in which case you will be assigned an editor with whom you will work directly, or the proposal will be rejected.

Feminist Studies features essays focused on visual art and/or culture that is accompanied by a multi-page, full-color images. These essays take the form either of a short essay or artist’s statement (approximately 1,500 to 4,000 words) that focuses on a contemporary artist or artists, or a full-length, scholarly, peer-reviewed article (6000 to 10,500 words), following the same guidelines as those essays submitted under the rubric of “Research and Criticism.”

The art feature testifies to the journal’s longstanding commitment to feminist art from around the world. Although we often publish work by established artists (e.g., Betye Saar, vol. 30, no. 1; Wangechi Mutu, vol. 42, no, 2) or those no longer living (e.g., Alice Neel, vol. 28, no. 2), we especially wish to introduce emerging artists to our readers — or artists who have not yet received widespread attention in an interdisciplinary scholarly context.

We are interested in various types of art and visual culture, including but not limited to painting, sculpture, craft, installation, and photography. We encourage artists to submit essays featuring their own work and/or to collaborate with others to submit a sequence of images accompanied by an introductory, critical essay.

To submit a short essay or statement on art and/or visual culture, provide the essay/statement written by the artist or by a scholar, critic, or other writer of some kind. Often artists work with critics to submit a set of images of their work. The primary readership will be academic, so the goal should be to situate the work alongside others in its genre and to explain its contributions. Include a Word document with the images you intend to feature, clearly labeled. (These can be low-resolution images at this point; in the event your submission is accepted, we will need to obtain high-resolution files of the images.) Include a 50-word biographical note (each) for the artist and the author.

Feminist Studies is deeply committed to publishing creative work. Beginning with our very first issue published in 1972, we have included creative work in every issue. We have published such distinguished authors as Meena Alexander, Nicole Brossard, Jayne Cortez, Toi Derricotte, Diane Glancy, Marilyn Hacker, Lyn Hejinian, June Jordan, Audre Lorde, Cherríe Moraga, Sharon Olds, Grace Paley, Ruth Stone, and Mitsuye Yamada.

We continue to welcome all forms of written creative expression, including but not limited to poetry and short fiction in all forms. We are interested in work that addresses questions of interest to the Feminist Studies audience, particularly work that pushes past the boundaries of what has been done before. We look for creative work that is intellectually challenging and aesthetically adventurous, that is in complicated dialogue with feminist ideas and concepts, and that shifts our readers into new perspectives on women/gender.

We only consider original work that is not under review elsewhere. Since creative work will not be returned, authors should retain a copy of their work. If other work is cited in the piece, please use our citation style.

Because of space constraints we are unable to publish individual pieces that run longer about 5,500 words.

We have rolling deadlines for submissions of creative work. All creative work is reviewed by our Creative Writing Editor who makes recommendations, which are read anonymously by our editorial collective.

News and Views welcomes timely, accessible, and theoretically informed writing that speaks across disciplines and audiences. We especially encourage submissions that illuminate how feminist perspectives unsettle dominant narratives, challenge systems of power, and imagine more just futures. This dynamic forum showcases concise, incisive feminist reflections that intervene in the urgent debates shaping our current moment.

In 2026, Feminist Studies is seeking short pieces (up to 1,500 words) for online and/or print publication that bring distinctly feminist analysis to pressing social, political, cultural, and technological issues, including:

• Surveillance cultures and technologies
• Artificial intelligence and algorithmic power
• Climate change and environmental justice
• Fake news, misinformation, and disinformation
• Censorship and freedom of speech
• Reproductive justice
• Racial and gender inequalities
• Indigenous rights and sovereignty

Pedagogical reflections welcomes meditations on the pedagogical dimensions of gender and sexuality studies by centering our experiences in the classroom as educators. We encourage submissions that are brief, timely, grounded engagements with pedagogy that can serve as resources for other educators in the field. We particularly invite submissions that focus on how we teach gender and sexuality studies, what constitutes feminist and queer pedagogy, and feminist and queer teaching strategies. Submissions should prioritize concrete and specific feminist and/or queer pedagogical practices or strategies.

Feminist Studies solicits directly from authors for its Books in Brief, a short review of a single recently published university press book.

Unsolicited submissions of this type and unsolicited reviewer copies of books are not accepted.