The Evolution Of Feminist Organizations

This fascinating study examines the changes in feminist organizations that were founded in the early 70s as alternatives to the traditional, bureaucratic human-service organizations. Through in-depth case studies, this book examines the life cycle of 15 feminist organizations and identifies, individually and collectively, various changes over ten or more years. The findings of this book reveal that over time these feminist organizations have evolved into bureaucratic structures that still retain their overarching feminist principles. Social scientists, gender / women's studies scholars, and those interested in the history of social movements will find this book an indispensable contribution to feminist literature.

When Betty Friedan produced The Feminine Mystique in 1963, she could not have realized how the discovery and debate of her contemporaries' general malaise would shake up society. Victims of a false belief system, these women were following strict social convention by loyally conforming to the pretty image of the magazines, and found themselves forced to seek meaning in their lives only through a family and a home. Friedan's controversial book about these women - and every woman - would ultimately set Second Wave feminism in motion and begin the battle for equality. This groundbreaking and life-changing work remains just as powerful, important and true as it was forty-five years ago, and is essential reading both as a historical document and as a study of women living in a man's world. 'One of the most influential nonfiction books of the twentieth century.' New York Times 'Feminism ...... began with the work of a single person: Friedan.' Nicholas Lemann With a new Introduction by Lionel Shriver

Feminist Organizing Across the Generations spans almost 60 years of feminist history and traces the evolution of feminist activism from the 1960s until the present. Using the Philadelphia chapter of the National Women's Organization as a starting point, Karen Bojar explores how feminist organizing was unfolding in similar ways across the county. The book examines the enormous energy put into building feminist service organizations such as women's shelters and rape crisis centers which were to have a profound impact on major social institutions, health care delivery and the justice system. The book also looks at the differences between the organizing strategies of "second wave" feminists and those of the 21st century. Much 21st-century feminist organizing is taking place outside of explicitly feminist groups, with young feminists bringing a gender justice perspective to a range of racial, economic and climate justice organizations. This book is suitable for students and scholars in women's and gender history, political history and gender studies.

This collection of twenty-six original essays looks at contemporary feminist organizations, how they've survived, the effects of their work, the problems they face, the strategies they develop, and where the women's movement is headed. The contributors, leading feminist scholars from nine social science disciplines, examine a wide variety of local feminist organizations, past and preset, illuminating the struggles of feminist organizers and activists. In the series Women in the Political Economy, edited by Ronnie J. Steinberg.

The struggle for the advancement of women's rights and gender equality globally is impossible without strong women's organizations and movements to provide leadership and momentum. But what does a strong women's organization look like? And what does it take to create effective and sustainable women's movements? This groundbreaking collection of essays by activists from all corners of the globe explores what it means to be an influential women's organization, and what it takes to build the kinds of movements needed to transform women's lives. From how to build successful participatory democratic processes and implement shared leadership models, to lessons on overcoming internal organizational divisions, the case studies in this collection focus not only on the "what" but also the "how" of movement building. Those concerned with how to effect sustainable change will find not only much food for thought, but also an abundance of creative ideas and innovative strategies - served up with a uniquely feminist twist.

The first in-depth analysis of the black feminist movement, Living for the Revolution fills in a crucial but overlooked chapter in African American, women’s, and social movement history. Through original oral history interviews with key activists and analysis of previously unexamined organizational records, Kimberly Springer traces the emergence, life, and decline of several black feminist organizations: the Third World Women’s Alliance, Black Women Organized for Action, the National Black Feminist Organization, the National Alliance of Black Feminists, and the Combahee River Collective. The first of these to form was founded in 1968; all five were defunct by 1980. Springer demonstrates that these organizations led the way in articulating an activist vision formed by the intersections of race, gender, class, and sexuality. The organizations that Springer examines were the first to explicitly use feminist theory to further the work of previous black women’s organizations. As she describes, they emerged in response to marginalization in the civil rights and women’s movements, stereotyping in popular culture, and misrepresentation in public policy. Springer compares the organizations’ ideologies, goals, activities, memberships, leadership styles, finances, and communication strategies. Reflecting on the conflicts, lack of resources, and burnout that led to the demise of these groups, she considers the future of black feminist organizing, particularly at the national level. Living for the Revolution is an essential reference: it provides the history of a movement that influenced black feminist theory and civil rights activism for decades to come.

Through a series of case studies written by women in development organizations this book reflects on the progress of gender mainstreaming. It shows how feminists can build effective strategies to influence development organizations and attempts to foster greater understanding and forge more effective alliances for social change.

Has feminism transformed development studies? What happens to feminist theory and practice within the development industry?This book brings together a variety of feminist ativists and academics, from both North and South, engaged in development, to answer these questions. Each describes her project and its feminist rationale, and analyses it through three fundamental challenges:the problem of making a feminist agenda work within development agencies, including the difficulties of finding funding and the constraints imposed by funders;the ethical and methodological issues raised by feminism - including the differences between women and the legitimacy of studying 'the Other';the challenge of international feminism: looking for new ways to work together for global change without imposing 'Western feminism' on Southern women.Including feminist projects from the 'South in the North', the book explores how 'global feminism' actually works in a variety of ways, through both activism and academic research. It is a fascinating insight into the challenges and rewards of feminist theory in practice. As such it is necessary reading for practitioners, policy-makers, activists and academics in gender and development as well as all students and academics of women's studies.