Scholarly anthologies (edited collections of essays/chapters that are written by different authors) and collections (written by one author), are often thematic, covering a specific sub-field of a discipline. Using an anthology for research allows you to explore diverse perspectives on a given subject.
PRO TIP: when citing an anthology or collection, don't forget to cite both the title of the essay/chapter AND the title of the anthology/collection. Use the format for a book chapter in your preferred citation style, e.g., MLA:
Petersen, Kristian. “Female Filmmakers and Muslim Women in Cinema.” The Routledge Handbook of Islam and Gender, edited by Justine Howe, Routledge, 2021.