Berghahn Books Sexual Politics and the European Union: The New Feminist Challenge

"... informative and thought-provoking ... the essays are assessable ... and useful." · H-Net Reviews (H-SAE) "The anthology provides an analytical foundation for assessing the policies and politics of European integration from a feminist perspective....This innovative volume is rounded out by two studies that are of increasing importance to gender and policy on a global scale: traffiking in women and reproductive technologies." · Women & Politics Just as feminist scholars began to develop an analysis of "the state" and women in Europe gained access to its political, legal and bureaucratic arenas, increased attention and reliance on European institutions have begun to take precedence over the more parochial concerns of the nation state. With the creation of the European super-state, feminist scholars will have to enhance their understanding of the European Union while activists will increasingly focus their efforts upon its institutions. This volume provides a comprehensive examination of EU policy implications for some of the most burning issues concerning women. This is the first book to transcend the emphasis on economics, the conventional basis for EU public policy discussions, thus providing a basis upon which one can begin to assess the politics of European integration from a feminist perspective. Review "... informative and thought-provoking ... the essays are assessable ... and useful." - H-Net Reviews (H-SAE) "The anthology provides an analytical foundation for assessing the policies and politics of European integration from a feminist perspective....This innovative volume is rounded out by two studies that are of increasing importance to gender and policy on a global scale: traffiking in women and reproductive technologies." - Women & Politics Synopsis Ten essays from the Women, The European State, and Community conference in Kalamazoo, Michigan, May 1994, apply to the coalescing superstate of the European Union the lessons feminists have learned dealing with national governments. Among the topics are women's rights policy, sexual harassment, porn From the Back Cover Just as feminist scholars have begun to develop an analysis of "the state" and women in Europe have gained access to its political, legal and bureaucratic arenas, increased attention and reliance on European institutions have begun to take precedence over the more parochial concerns of the nation state. With the creation of the European super-state, feminist scholars will have to enhance their understanding of the European Union while activists will increasingly focus their efforts upon its institutions. This is the first book to transcend the emphasis on economics, the conventional basis for EU public-policy discussions, thus providing a basis upon which one can begin to assess the politics of European integration from a feminist perspective. About the Author R. Amy Elman, Assistant Professor of Political Science, Kalamazoo College, Michigan