Women Reshaping Human Rights: How Extraordinary Activists Are Changing the World

by Marguerite Guzman Bouvard

Overview

In Women Reshaping Human Rights ,ordinary yet extraordinary women tell their stories, in their own words. Their deeds span continents and have profoundly affected millions worldwide.Readers will meet Vera Laska, who as a teenager joined the resistance against the Nazis in Czechoslovakia; Dai Qing, who fights the Communist Party's grip upon the media and government in the People's Republic of China; and Juana Beatrice Gutierrez and the Mothers of East Los Angeles, who challenge drug dealers and toxic polluters threatening their neighborhood.

Professor Bouvard provides a complete biography of every activist. The stage is thus set for each individual, who recounts real-life stories of courage that sadly until now have gone unnoticed. Finally we hear the voices of those who have transformed the quest for human rights.

This volume is divided into five sections: Confronting Authoritarian Governments, Struggling with Race and Ethnicity, Seeking Enviromental Justice, Upholding Women's Rights as Human Rights, and Making the World Safe for Childern.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780842025638
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	05/01/1996
Series:	South
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	319
Product dimensions:	6.70(w) x 9.12(h) x 0.77(d)

About the Author

Marguerite Guzmàn Bouvard is a resident scholar with the Women's Studies Program at Brandeis University. She is the author of books in the fields of political science, psychology, women's studies, and poetry.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Introduction: women Transforming the Battle for Human Rights Part 2 I Confronting Authoritarian Governments Chapter 3 Vera Laska Chapter 4 Eva Brantley Chapter 5 Annette Lu Hsiu-Lien Chapter 6 Dai Qing Part 7 II Struggling with Race and Ethnicity Chapter 8 Daisy L. Bates Chapter 9 Hanan Mikhail Ashrawi Chapter 10 Awiakta Chapter 11 Navanethem Pillay Part 12 III Seeking Environmental Justice Chapter 13 Dollie B. Burwell Chapter 14 Juana Beatrice Gutiérrez and the Mothers of East Los Angeles Chapter 15 Grace Thorpe Part 16 IV Upholding Women's Rights as Human Rights Chapter 17 Gertrude Mongella Chapter 18 Jessica Neuwirth and Equality Now Chapter 19 Navanethem Pillay Chapter 20 Zhu Hong Part 21 V Making the World Safe for Children Chapter 22 Liv Ullmann Chapter 23 The International Gathering of Mothers and Women in Struggle

Editorial Reviews

These are stories of triumph over tyranny, over harassment and abuse, over—at the very least—political and social roadblocks on several continents. Riveting.

Rose Styron

A compelling account of the experience of extraordinary contemporary women who have reshaped national and international agendas.. .. The human rights movement can only rejoice for having such defenders and teachers.

Elsa Stamatopoulou

Finally, we hear the voices of those who have transformed the quest for justice.Women Reshaping Human Rights is compelling reading and an essential addition to every women's studies reference shelf and reading list.

Midwest Book Review

Deeply interesting.. .. Extraordinary acts of courage, compassion and political skill, grew out of the ability to see the relationship between everyday activities and larger political imperatives. These stories both instruct and inspire.

Mary L. Shanley

Bouvard uses the voices of courageous activists to tell a powerful story of the global struggle to expand human rights. A magnificent contribution to our understanding of how determined women can make the world accept universal ideals.

Robert Pastor

Thought-provoking and energizing. The activists cover a half century of work in making each woman's part of the world a more just place and joining peoples throughout the world in their efforts to advance more broadly defined human rights

Choice Reviews

A compelling account of the experience of extraordinary contemporary women who have reshaped national and international agendas. . . . The human rights movement can only rejoice for having such defenders and teachers.--Elsa Stamatopoulou, human rights lawyer, Center for Human Rights, United Nations

Bouvard uses the voices of courageous activists to tell a powerful story of the global struggle to expand human rights. A magnificent contribution to our understanding of how determined women can make the world accept universal ideals.--Robert Pastor, Emory University

Deeply interesting. . . . Extraordinary acts of courage, compassion and political skill, grew out of the ability to see the relationship between everyday activities and larger political imperatives. These stories both instruct and inspire.--Mary L. Shanley, Vassar College

From the Publisher

Thought-provoking and energizing. The activists cover a half century of work in making each woman's part of the world a more just place and joining peoples throughout the world in their efforts to advance more broadly defined human rights

CHOICE

Thought-provoking and energizing. The activists cover a half century of work in making each woman's part of the world a more just place and joining peoples throughout the world in their efforts to advance more broadly defined human rights

Choice

Stories of 17 women who have struggled for human rights throughout the world during the 20th century but have been largely overlooked by the conventional literature. They are depicted confronting authoritarian governments, struggling with race and ethnicity, seeking environmental justice, upholding women's rights as human rights, and making the world safe for children. Paper edition (unseen), $18.95. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews

The activists' fight to uphold women's rights as human rights. These 'ordinary' women tell their own stories of political activism.

Feminist Bookstore News