The Century Of Women

This innovative text explores the unprecedented changes in the realms of politics, demography, economics, culture, knowledge, and kinship that women have brought about in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Global in reach, the book provides a comparative analysis of developments worldwide to show both progress as well as new tensions and forms of inequality that have emerged out of women’s entry into politics, wage employment, education, and the production of culture. Beginning with suffrage and moving to participation in international movements—such as anti-war, labor, and environmental rights activism—Maria Bucur explores how women have transformed the operation of states and international institutions. She focuses on the radical demographic shifts since 1900 through the prism of changing practices in women’s sexuality, from birth control practices to education. Examining the continuing economic gender gap around the world, Bucur highlights ways women have been both beneficiaries of new economic opportunities and participants in developing new forms of inequality. Considering the remarkable achievements of women in the areas of knowledge making and cultural production, the author shifts her gaze toward the future and what these changes mean in terms of gender norms and evolving kinship relations. She thus presents a new perspective on contemporary world history, centered on how women have become both the subjects and objects of seismic shifts in the political, social, and economic structures of societies across the globe.

A distinguished social and feminist historian chronicles the dramatic changes that have taken place in the lives of American and British women over the course of the last one hundred years, explaining how women have shaped the twentieth century and featuring essays on topics ranging from lesbian culture to Barbie dolls.

Examines how and why American women voted since the Nineteenth Amendment was ratified in 1920.

Consists of chapters by subject, including women reformers, inventors, lawyers etc.

"The author brings to life the stories of the greatest women adventurers in history. Crossing five continents, these indomitable women faced unimaginable dangers, from deserts and jungles to mountains and icebergs, often armed with little in the way of specialist equipment other than an umbrella and a "good, thick skirt". Spanning a century, this book mixes triumph and tragedy as it follows these heroines' extraordinary adventures. Archival photographs and extracts from diaries, journals, letters, and other writings thrillingly bring to life the unquenchable spirit of adventure of these courageous women."--Global Books in Print.

CHOICE OUTSTANDING ACADEMIC TITLE 2015 Do women national leaders represent a breakthrough for the women’s movement, or is women’s leadership weaker than the numbers imply? This unique book, written by an experienced politician and academic, is the first to provide a comprehensive overview of how and why women in 53 countries rose to the top in the years since World War II. Packed with fascinating case studies detailing the rise to power of all 73 female presidents and prime ministers from around the world, from 1960 (when the first was elected) to 2010, the motives, achievements and life stories of the female top leaders, including findings from interviews carried out by the author, provide a nuanced picture of women in power. The book will have wide international appeal to students, academics, government officials, women’s rights activists and political activists, as well as anyone interested in international affairs, politics, social issues, gender and equality.