中国基督教史研究中的性别意识是姗姗来迟的。即使把妇女与基督教看成是性别研究的某种源头的话,这也一直是中国基督教史研究中的薄弱环节。不过,这也为此前忽视性别意识的中国基督教史研究带来了一些新气象。据戴懿华(Melissa Dale)《从近年英文学术著作看妇女与基督教在近代中国的研究》,戴懿华(Melissa Dale):《从近年英文学术著作看妇女与基督教在近代中国的研究》,黄薇译,载陶飞亚编《性别与历史:近代中国妇女与基督教》(上海:上海人民出版社,2006)。英语世界以女传教士研究为重点。其中两本关于女传教士的著作虽不专以女传教士在中国为特定对象,但对女传教士的研究很有帮助和指导性,即佛莱明(Leslie A.Flemming)主编的《妇女工作为妇女:传教士和亚洲的社会变迁》和罗伯特(Dana L.Robert)的《差会中的美国妇女:她们思想和实践的社会史》。Dana L.Robert,American Women in Mission:A Social History of their Thought and Practice(Macon,Ga.:Mercer University Press,1996);Leslie A.Flemming(ed.),Women’s Work for Women:Missionaries and Social Change in Asia(Boulder:Westview Press,1989).而关于女传教士在中国的研究,亨特(Jane Hunter)的《高雅的福音:美国女传教士在世纪之交的中国》,探讨了女传教士在中国社会转型期的传教活动与生活方式以及其中存在的矛盾与困境,并提出了一些有价值的见解。Jane Hunter,The Gospel of Gentility:American Women Missionaries in Turn of the Century China(New Haven:Yale University Press,1984).德史密瑟(Carol Marie DeSmither)的博士论文《从召唤到职业:美国来华女传教士的工作身份与职业身份,1900~1950》讨论了美国妇女来华传教的选择及其抉择中的宗教与职业因素。Carol Marie DeSmither,“From Calling to Career:Work and Professional Identity among American Women Missionaries to China,1900-1950”(Ph.D.dissertation,University of Oregon,1987).曼(Beate E. Mann)的博士论文《1886~1914年在华德国单身女传教士的工作:差会区域传教学理论与实践的比较》则运用教会史和性别研究的方法,检视了单身女传教士在中国的贡献。Eulenhoefer-Mann,Beate,“Missionary Work of Single German Women in China from 1886-1914:A Comparison between Missiological Theory and Praxis on the Mission field”(Ph.D. dissertation,Fuller Theological Seminary,School of Theology,2003).女传教士个案则有金(Marjorie King)的《中国的美国女儿:浦爱德(1888~1985)》,考察了女传教士浦爱德在中国的传奇经历。罗凯琳(Kathleen L.Lodwick)的《培训海南岛的妇女:玛格利特·莫玲格尔的在华经历,1915~1942》,是对莫玲格尔在海南妇女教师事业的考察。其他的关于女传教士的著作还有一些。Marjorie King,China’s American Daughter:Ida Pruitt 1888-1985(The Chinese University Press,2006);Kathleen L.Lodwick,Educating the Women of Hainan:The Career of Margaret Moninger in China,1915-1942(Lexington:University of Kentucky Press,1995);Edward Fischer,Maybe a Second Spring:The Story of the Missionary Sisters of St. Columban in China(New York:Crossroad,1983);Maria Cristina Zaccarini,The Sino-American Friendship as Tradition and Challenge:Dr. Ailie Gale in China,1908-1950(Bethlehem,PA;London:Lehigh University Press;Associated University Presses,2001);Frances Alexander,Mary Charlotte Alexander:Missionary to China(1920-1956)= Au Mo Ling(Austin,TX:published by author,printed by Von Boeckmann-Jones Co.,1968);Kenneth L. Wilson,Angel at her Shoulder:Lillian Dickson and her Taiwan Mission(New York,NY:Christian Herald Paperback Library,1970);Margaret Yarwood Lamb,Going it Alone:Mary Andrews-Missionary to China,1938 to1951(Sydney South,Australia:Aquila Press,1995);胡华玲:《金陵永生:魏特琳女士传:南京大屠杀保护中华妇女的活菩萨》(台北:九歌出版社,1997)。另外,几篇有分量的单篇论文也对本领域的研究有诸多启发。王秀云:《有关西方女传教士与中国妇女的几个历史问题:从文献谈起》,《近代中国妇女史研究》第8期(2000年8月),第237~252页;Carol C. Chin,“Beneficent Imperialists:American Women Missionaries in China at the Turn of the Twentieth Century,” Diplomatic History,27.3(June 2003);Janet Lee,“Between Subordination and She-tiger:Social Constructions of White Femininity in the Lives of Single,Protestant Missionaries in China,1905-1930,” Women’s Studies International Forum,19.6(Nov.-Dec. 1996)。