Women across Cultures: A Global Perspective » (2nd Edition)

This text examines and documents the issues women face in terms of lower status and lower power around the world and across cultures. The book then discusses what is being done from the local to the global level to address women's issues, empowering women and promoting women's equal rights.

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 of Interest
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