With the start of the year 2001, the world is entering into a new wave of feminism, said Jonelle Depetro, associate professor of philosophy.

Tonight at 7 p.m. in Lumpkin Hall Room 122, a noted feminist economist and scholar, Marianne Ferber will speak to students on feminist economics and its significance in the year 2001. Her visit is sponsored by the EIU Women’s Advocacy Council and the University Board, Depetro said.

Ferber, a native of Czechoslovakia, received her bachelor of arts degree from McNaster University in Canada and her doctorate from the University of Chicago. She is currently a professor emerita of economics and women’s studies at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, Depetro said.

She has published her work in feminist economics, education, sociology and women’s studies journals. She continues to serve on the editorial board of several journals, Depetro said.

She served as the Horner Distinguished Visiting Professor at Radcliffe Public Policy Institute and as president of the Midwest Economic Association. She also served as president of the International Association for Feminist Economics and was the recipient of the McNaster University 1996 Distinguished Alumni Award for the Arts, Depetro said.

Ferber has served as co-editor for works such as “Work and Families: Policies for a Changing Work Force,” Beyond Economic Man: Feminist Theory and Economics” and “Academic Couples: Problems Promises,” among others. She is also co-author of “The Economics of Women, Men and Work,” set to be published later this year.

Tonight’s presentation is titled, “Beyond Economic Man: How Feminists are Trying to Change the Dismal Science,” Depetro said. The presentation will discuss what feminist economics is and what it’s significance is along with why it is so important, Depetro said.

“Feminist economics has been around for quite awhile, and (Ferber) will be talking about why it continues to be important in the new millennium,” Depetro said. “We’re entering a new wave of feminism and feminist economics continues to be important. Her presentation will help explain why (feminist economics) is important and why it will continue to be important in the new millennium,” she said.