1st Edition
Gender Equality in a Global Perspective
Gender Equality in a Global Perspective looks to discuss whether Gender Equality can be adopted as it has been defined in international documents anywhere, or whether it needs to be adapted in a more local context; discuss which factors and perspectives need to be taken into account when adapting Gender Equality to specific contexts; suggest research approaches for studies on whether a universal (Western) concept of Gender Equality fits in certain specific contexts; and finally suggests challenges to the existing interpretation of Gender Equality (e.g., theory of intersectionality); and the development of legal and policy framework.
This book is situated within the tradition of comparative gender studies. While most other such books take up and compare various ways of implementing (or not implementing) gender equality, this book studies and compares whether or not (and to what extent) a specific definition of Gender Equality (GE) could be adopted by various nations. Thus, all chapter contributors will engage with the same definition of GE, which will be presented within the book, and discuss the possibilities and constrains related to applying such a definition in their particular national context.
The readers will learn about the problems of applying a universal concept of Gender Equality and the possible reasons for and modes of adapting Gender Equality to different contexts. Gender Equality in a Global Perspective looks to maintain a critical and reflexive stance towards the issues raised and will seek to present multiple perspectives and open-ended answers. As such it hopes to contribute to the international discussion of human rights more broadly and Gender Equality specifically.
The intended audience is not limited only to but will include policy makers, scholars and students with an interest in Gender issues, Organizational Theory, Political Science, Human Development, Policy Analysis, Globalization and other management sub-disciplines.
Part 1: Background and Introduction
1. Introduction: Different Dimensions of Gender Equality in a Comparative Perspective
Snježana Vasiljević, Raili Marling and Anders Örtenblad
Part 2: Examining Gender Equality in a Global Perspective
2. Gender Equality in Nigeria
Funmi Josephine Para-Mallam
3. Gender Equality in the Arab and Muslim World: Whither Post-Revolutionary Egypt?
Mohamed Arafa and Ahmed El-Ashry
4. (Un)doing Gender Equality in China
Yan Zhao
5. A "Fair Go" in the Lucky Country? Gender Equality and the Australian Case
Archana Preeti Voola, Kara Beavis and Anuradha Mundkur
6. Gender Equality in Uruguay
Alma Espino
7. Structural and Ideological Gender Equality in Mexico
Sonia M. Frías
8. Gender Equality in the United States
Colleen E. Arendt and Patrice M. Buzzanell
9. Gender Equality in Serbia
Suzana Ignjatović and Aleksandar Bošković
10. Gender Equality in Croatia
Snježana Vasiljević
11. Gender Equality in Estonia
Raili Marling
Part 3: Comments and Conclusions
12. Commentary: The Nature and Impact of Gender Equality Initiatives Around the Globe – Tensions and Paradoxes
Patrice M. Buzzanell
13. Conclusion
Raili Marling, Snježana Vasiljević and Anders Örtenblad
Biography
Anders Örtenblad is Professor of Organization and Leadership at Nord University, Norway.
Raili Marling is Associate Professor of American Studies at the University of Tartu, Estonia.
Snježana Vasiljević is Professor of European Law and Fundamental Rights, European Anti-discrimination Law, EU Law and Gender at the Zagreb University, Croatia.
"This book is timely and thought provoking, rarely does a book on Gender equality explore the relationship between research, theory, practise and action with such rigour, insight and relevance from a global context. Each author presents leading edge contributions which advance stimulating and distinctive debates to the study of diversity and equality. The ingenious accounts provide critical insights and new impetus to the study of gender equality. The book is evocative, an invaluable resource for scholars, students and practitioners across the social sciences. A must read, which makes an outstanding contribution." –Kiran Trehan, University of Birmingham, UK
"This thought provoking book challenges our current understanding and implementation of the core concept of gender equality as embodied in the CEDAW Convention and rightfully calls for more comparative analyses of ways and gaps encountered in its incorporation at the national level. As such it contributes better understanding of obstacles and measures needed in achieving gender equality as established goal No 5. of the UN Sustainable Development Agenda." –Dubravka Simonovic, UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women, its Causes and Consequences
"This timely volume addresses a long standing core question and dilemma in feminist theory and more generally work on gender equality. This is the underlying and often normative universalism of what human rights imply, and in particular concepts such as gender equality in contrast to national and local gender regimes. Drawing on an empirically rich variation of examples from different parts of the world, we come to learn about the complexity and challenges involved in applying definitions and concept related to human rights and social injustice. With a point of departure in a common set of questions of what gender equality means, the different chapters of the book addresses how international law, policies, and regulatory frameworks needs to be understood in their particular contexts. It is a refreshing and much sought for perspective that teaches us that gender equality is never only about gender." –Ulf Mellström, Karlstad University, Sweden
