The Challenge Of Local Feminisms Women's Movements In Global Perspective

This pathbreaking book provides for the first time an overview of the genesis, growth, gains, and dilemmas of women's movements worldwide. Unlike most of the literature, which focuses on the industrialized Western world, this volume devotes greater attention to the postcolonial states of Asia, Africa, and Latin America. The book challenges the assu

Part 1 Asia: discovering the positive within the negative - the women's movement in a changing China, Naihua Zhang and Wu Xu; from Chipko to Sati - the contemporary Indian women's movement, Radha Kumar; men in seclusion, women in public - Rokeya's dream and women's struggles in Bangladesh, Roushan Jahan; rebirthing Babaye - the women's movement in the Philippines, Lilia Quindoza Santiago. Part 2 Africa and the Middle East: the dawn of a new day - redefining South African feminism, Amanda Kemp et al; the many faces of feminism in Namibia, Dianne Hubbard and Colette Solomon; the mother of warriors and her daughters - the women's movement in Kenya, Wilhelmina Oduol and Wanjiku Mukabi Kabira; wifeism and activism - the Nigerian women's movement, Hussaina Abdullah; claiming feminism, claiming nationalism - women's activism in the occupied territories, Islah Jad. Part 3 Latin America: out of the kitchens and onto the streets - women's activism in Peru, Cecilia Blondet; democracy in the country and in the home - the women's movement in Chile, Alicia Frohmann and Teresa Valdes; Brazilian feminism and women's movements - a two-way street, Vera Soares et al; building bridges - the growth of popular feminism in Mexico, Marta Lamas et al. Part 4 Russia, Europe and the United States: democracy without women is no democracy - women's struggles in post-communist Russia, Elizabeth Waters and Anastasia Posadskaya; finding a voice - women in post-communist Central Europe, Elzbieta Matynia; extending the boundaries of citizenship - women's movements of Western Europe, Jane Jenson; feminism lives - building a multicultural women's movement in the United States, Leslie R. Wolfe and Jennifer Tucker.

Amrita Basu is professor of political science and women's and gender studies at Amherst College. C. Elizabeth McGrory works as a consultant on reproductive health and women's rights.