Women Across Cultures: A Global Perspective / Edition 3

by Shawn Meghan Burn

Overview

Women Across Cultures examines contemporary women's issues and empowerment from a global perspective. Gender inequality is examined as a historical, sociocultural phenomenon within the context of interlocking systems of inequality such as racism, colonialism, and economic injustice. A strong emphasis is given to the variety of approaches and actions women take to promote gender equality and to influence women's progress. The influence of intersectional and contextual factors on women's issues, activism, and movements are a key focus.
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Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780073512334
Publisher:	McGraw-Hill Higher Education
Publication date:	08/30/2010
Edition description:	List
Pages:	400
Product dimensions:	7.20(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.60(d)

Table of Contents

Preface

Chapter 1: Introduction to the Cross-Cultural Study of Women's Issues

Cross-Cultural Similarities

Cross-Cultural Differences

The Study of Global Women: Rich and Rewarding, Shocking and Disturbing

Respecting Diversity and Avoiding Ethnocentrism

Women's Rights as Human Rights

A Cautionary Word

Overview of the Book

Study Questions

Discussion Questions

Chapter 2: Women's Low Status and Power

Males' Greater Economic Power

Males' Greater Political Power

Males' Higher Status

Females As Property

Physical Violence Against Women

Domestic Violence

Dowry Death

Honor Killing

Sexual Violence and Exploitation

Rape

War Rape

Prostitution

Explaining Women's Low Status and Power

Conclusion

Study Questions

Discussion Questions and Activities

Activist Websites of Interest

Informational Websites of Interest

Action Opportunities

Chapter 3: Reproductive Rights

Reproductive Control as a Symptom of Women's Low Status

Lack of Reproductive Control Perpetuates Women's Low Status

Reproductive Control Impacts Women's Health

Maternal Mortality and Pregnancy-related Disability

Contraceptives and Women's Health

Female Genital Mutilation

HIV/AIDS

The Agents that Control Women's Reproductive Choice

Male Control of Women's Reproductive Choice

Government Control of Women's Reproductive Choice

The Global Economy and Women's Reproductive Choice

Religious Organizations' Control of Women's Reproductive Choice

Abortion

Legal Abortion

Reducing Abortions: Contraceptives & Sex Education

Conclusion

Study Questions

Discussion Questions and Activities

Activist Websites ofInterest

Informational Websites of Interest

Action Opportunities

Chapter 4: Lesbians in Cross-Cultural Perspective

The Incidence of Lesbianism

Lesbian Invisibility

Factors Contributing to Lesbian Invisibility

Employment

Family

Children

Safety

Mental Health

Community and Credibility

The Perception of Lesbians As Dangerous

Lesbian Feminism

Lesbian Responses to Invisibility and Heterosexism

Embracing the Lesbian Label

Lesbian Communities and Organizations

Recovering Lesbian Herstory

Conclusion

Study Questions

Discussion Questions and Activities

Activist Websites of Interest

Informational Websites of Interest

Action Opportunities

Chapter 5: Women's Work

Women's Work and Our Study of Women Across Cultures

Women's Unpaid Labor

Women's Paid Labor

The Gender Pay Gap

Gender Job Segregation

Part-Time Workers

Gender Wage Discrimination

Remedies for the Gender Pay Gap

Cross-Cultural Variation in the Gender Pay Gap

The Glass Ceiling

Gender Stereotypes

Organizational Practices

Responsibilities to Home and Family

State Maternity Leave and Child-Care Policies

Sexual Harassment

Defining Sexual Harassment

Prevalence of Sexual Harassment

Causes of Sexual Harassment

Sexual Harassment Interventions

Self-Employed Women

Conclusion

Study Questions

Discussion Questions and Activities

Activist Websites of Interest

Informational Websites of Interest

Action Opportunities

Chapter 6: Women and Development

Background

Development Terminology

Colonial History

Conditions in Developing Nations

Feminist Concerns with the Development Process

Women in Development Approach (WID)

Income-Generating Projects

Labor Saving Technologies

Providing Women Access to Development Resources

Gender and Development Approach (GAD)

GAD As Envisioned by Southern Hemisphere Feminists

Development Agencies and GAD

Women, the Environment, and Sustainable Development

Sustainability Basics

Effects of Environmental Degradation on Women

The Role of Women in Sustainable Development

Women and Environmental Activism

Conclusion

Study Questions

Discussion Questions and Activities

Activist Websites of Interest

Informational Websites of Interest

Action Opportunities

Chapter 7: Women and Globalization

The Effects of Globalization on Women

Women's Work in the Transnational Factory

The Global Economy and Women's Migration

Domestic Service

Mail-order Brides

Women's Work in the Global Sex Trade

Conclusion

Study Questions

Discussion Questions and Activities

Activist Websites of Interest

Informational Websites of Interest

Action Opportunities

Chapter 8: Women and Religion

Common Feminist Critiques of Religion

Masculine God Language

Sexism in Religious Texts

Sex-Segregated Religious Practices

Reformist Efforts in Feminist Theology

Women and The World's Major Religions

Hinduism

Buddhism

Islam

Judaism

Christianity

Revolutionary Feminist Theology

Conclusion

Study Questions

Discussion Questions and Activities

Activist Websites of Interest

Informational Websites of Interest

Action Opportunities

Chapter 9: Women in Politics

Women Voters, Legislators, and Cabinet Members

Voting

Parliaments, Congresses and Cabinets

Barriers to Women's Presence in Formal Politics

Female Heads of State

Paths to Power

Political Surrogate Path to Power

Political Insider/Climber Path to Power

Political Outsider Path to Power

Leadership Style

Advocacy of Women's Issues

Role of Gender in the Perception of Female World Leaders

Increasing Women's Participation in Formal Politics

Women in Informal Politics: Social and Protest Movements

Women's Action Around Economic Issues

Women's Action Around Nationalist and Racial/Ethnic Issues

Women's Action Around Humanistic/Nurturing Issues

Conclusion

Study Questions

Discussion Questions and Activities

Activist Websites of Interest

Informational Websites of Interest

Action Opportunities

Chapter 10: Gender Equality Movements

Forces Operating Against Women's Activism

Early Assumptions About Women's Movements

Diversity in Use of the Feminist Label

Different Strands of Women's Movements

The Journey to Gender Equality Differs Cross-Culturally

Women's Movements in Response to Different Issues

Effect of Local Political and Economic Conditions

Women's Movements Arising From Class Struggles

Women's Movements in Tandem with Nationalist Struggles

Nationalist Struggles May Not Enhance Gender Equality

Gender Equality is Often Subordinated to Other Issues

The State and Feminism

State Feminism

Debate about the Role of the State

Examples of State Feminism

China

Kenya

Norway

Conclusion

Study Questions

Discussion Questions and Activities

Activist Websites of Interest

Informational Websites of Interest

Action Opportunities

Chapter 11: Women's Rights As Human Rights

Women's Rights As Human Rights

The United Nations

General Description

The UN's Contribution to Gender Equality

The UN's World Women's Conferences

Some Important UN Conventions and Treaties Regarding Women's Rights

Challenges to a Women's Human Rights Agenda

Moving From Visibility to Accountability

Bringing Women's Rights Into Mainstream Human Rights

Respecting Cultural Diversity While Promoting Universal Human Rights

Conclusion

Study Questions

Discussion Questions and Activities

Activist Websites of Interest

Informational Websites of Interest

Action Opportunities

Appendix

Glossary

References

Index