(From National Women's Studies Association membership brochure) AN ETHICS STATEMENT FOR WOMEN'S STUDIES PRACTITIONERS Barbara W. Gerber - We value and celebrate the diversity of cultures and interests within our communities, society, our professional world and Association. - Our mission/task is the enhancement of all women's lives through the stewardship of knowledge/information relevant to understanding women's lives. - We accept the challenge of extending knowledge through teaching and practice as specialists in the field. - We will accomplish this utilizing traditional and alternative methods of understanding and teaching; and we will exert leadership in using and sharing knowledge and skills. - We believe in displaying leadership which is willing to take risks, shows a readiness to take stands and assumes a responsibility to act on relevant issues. - Our decisions will be guided by professional knowledge, compassion, reverence for life, understanding the interconnectedness of everything, and a desire to improve the lives of all women. - Through NWSA we will provide leadership to achieve this by sponsoring national conferences, journals and other printed and non-printed media, which showcase feminist scholarship and research, as well as professional development and opportunities for networking.