Zed Books Defending Our Dreams: Global Feminist Voices for a New Generation

The unique experiences, perspectives and visions of young feminists are extremely valuable in both understanding the current world order and in shaping a better future. Young feminists are engaged as advocates, organisers, protesters, researchers and strategists, and their energies, visions, solidarity, creativity and passion are instrumental in defining social movements globally. This pioneering collection brings together analyses by feminists of diverse identities on a range of themes including women's rights and economic change; new technologies; sexuality; and feminist organizations and movements. Defending Our Dreams includes analyses by contributors from Uruguay, Venezuela, South Africa, Tanzania, Nepal, India, Canada, the USA, Australia, Barbados and the UK. This book is essential reading for all those engaged in feminist research, organizing and activism. Review 'Leading the way to the future, this multi-cultural collection of the voices of young feminists illuminates the issues that are or will be in the crucible of feminist struggles to come. It also shows us both how the lives of women have and have not changed in the past few decades. A lively and thought provoking read - a must for anyone concerned with the future as seen through the wisdom of young women activists today.' Charlotte Bunch, Centre for Women's Global Leadership 'This book represents the most powerful, eloquent and thought-provoking collection I've seen in a long time. It brings together a poetic, jarring, often painful chorus of voices together. These are not na‹ve, headstrong young women with blinders on; they are experienced, committed and thoughtful activists whose challenges are complex. Each of the writers in this book brings a rare and sparkling truth to the table - what we, who read, choose to do with this truth is our choice; these young women have done their job.' Sisonke Msimang 'Is 'young feminist' an oxymoron in a time that some people like to call post-feminist? This book challenges 'in the box' thinking while addressing a range of issues old and new. Its energy, thoughtfulness and honesty invigorate, even if they discomfort. Highly recommended for feminists, old and young, female and male, of whatever stripe, hue, shape or identity!' Gita Sen, Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, India 'When considering global politics today...it is easy to become jaded and cynical. This book is a wonderful antidote...Rather than getting stuck in arguments over contested meanings, as second-generation postmodern, liberal, socialist and maternal feminists often have, these women know what is important to them and seek in their own lives to struggle closer to their dreams, often reaching unashamedly to seems intuitively right.' Elisabeth Porter, Democratiya 5 About the Author Shamillah Wilson is the Young Women and Leadership programme manager for the Association for Women's Rights in Development (AWID). Anasuya Sengupta has been for the past three years co-ordinator of a UNICEF project with the Karnataka police, working on violence against women and children. Kristy Evans is a recent Young Women and Leadership intern for the Association for Women's Rights in Development (AWID).