Product Description

Political interventions in pursuit of gender equality are currently high on the political agenda, but the transformative potential of women's policy agencies, gender quotas and gender mainstreaming is frequently compromised by the demands of neo-liberal governance on the one hand and essentialist assertions of group identity on the other. This book explores the potential of these strategies arguing that they need to be framed by considerations of democratic justice rather than technocratic utility and complex diversity rather than sexual difference.

Book Description

Political interventions in pursuit of gender equality are currently high on the political agenda, but the transformative potential of women's policy agencies, gender quotas and gender mainstreaming is frequently compromised by the demands of neo-liberal governance on the one hand and essentialist assertions of group identity on the other. This book explores the potential of these strategies arguing that they need to be framed by considerations of democratic justice rather than technocratic utility and complex diversity rather than sexual difference.

During the past decade governments around the globe have introduced institutional mechanisms to promote the advancement of women, including measures to increase women’s political participation rates and to incorporate women’s interests into policy-making. Why have they done so? How successful have these initiatives been? What are the emerging agendas facing gender equality advocates now?

In the New Politics of Gender Equality Judith Squires examines the origins, evolution and key features of three strategies that have been employed across the world in pursuit of gender equality – quotas, policy agencies and gender mainstreaming. The author critically examines each strategy to see how far they transform political institutions and agendas and to what extent they lead rather to the assimilation of women in male-defined structures. Squires argues that a multi-pronged approach, drawing on democratic rather than technocratic strategies, offers the best potential for advancing gender equality. She highlights too the limitations of approaches that ignore inequalities among women and the challenges of developing equality initiatives to address multiple and cross-cutting inequalities between groups.

Judith Squires is Professor of Political Theory, University of Bristol. She has written, researched and published widely in the field of gender politics and gender equality.

"Squires’ arguments are cogent, clear, timely and theoretically comprehensive... [She] has written as clear an account of the current dilemmas of equality policies as is possible... and offers a powerful exposition of what is at stake." - Joni Lovenduski, Politics and Gender

Engaging the State: Institutionalizing Gender Equality

Equality Strategies: Gender Quotas, Women's

Description

During the past decade governments around the globe have introduced institutional mechanisms to promote the advancement of women, including measures to increase women’s political participation rates and to incorporate women’s interests into policy-making. Why have they done so? How successful have these initiatives been? What are the emerging agendas facing gender equality advocates now?

In the New Politics of Gender Equality Judith Squires examines the origins, evolution and key features of three strategies that have been employed across the world in pursuit of gender equality – quotas, policy agencies and gender mainstreaming. The author critically examines each strategy to see how far they transform political institutions and agendas and to what extent they lead rather to the assimilation of women in male-defined structures. Squires argues that a multi-pronged approach, drawing on democratic rather than technocratic strategies, offers the best potential for advancing gender equality. She highlights too the limitations of approaches that ignore inequalities among women and the challenges of developing equality initiatives to address multiple and cross-cutting inequalities between groups.

Judith Squires is Professor of Political Theory, University of Bristol. She has written, researched and published widely in the field of gender politics and gender equality.

Reviews

"Squires’ arguments are cogent, clear, timely and theoretically comprehensive... [She] has written as clear an account of the current dilemmas of equality policies as is possible... and offers a powerful exposition of what is at stake." - Joni Lovenduski, Politics and Gender

JUDITH SQUIRES is Professor of Political Theory, University of Bristol, UK. She has written, researched and published widely in the field of gender politics and gender equality.