This book, by writers from a wide variety of countries, is a timely review of where the world's women now stand. With a mix of moving descriptions of the situations facing individual women and its up-to-date general information and analysis, this book makes compelling reading. It looks at how much still needs to change, and how women are themselves changing their own situation. The problems that remain are legion, and often experienced by women across very different societies—sexual harassment, domestic violence, legal disabilities, subordination in marriage and personal law, lack of land rights, and difficulties in employment, the absence of childcare facilities, pregnancy testing, consequent dismissal, and wage discrimination. Yet as the authors also make clear, in each country there are courageous women's organizations using research, publicity, lobbying, and direct action in a continuing struggle to transform the realities still faced by so many women, and especially the poor.

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