'This book ... should be issued to grass-root organisations everywhere' Doris Lessing, The New Scientist 'It is must reading for government planners, environmentalists and the ordinary layman' Asia Week Women in the Third World play the major role in managing natural resources. They are also the first and hardest hit by environmental mismanagement, yet they are neither consulted nor taken into account by development strategists. lrene Dankelman and Joan Davidson provide a clear account of the problems faced by women in the management of land, water, forests, energy and human settlements. They also describe the lack of response from international organizations. With the help of well-documented case studies they describe the ways in which women can organize to meet environmental, social and economic challenges. Originally published in 1988

Increasingly, over the last 20 years, women in poor developing countries have had to cope with growing ecological stress. Food, fodder, wood and water, previously in adequate supply have become scarce, and women have also been deprived of traditional access to cultivable land. Those who left the countryside for the cities now face terrible pollution, miserable housing and poor sanitation and water supplies. This reader tells the rarely told story of women living and coping in these dreadful conditions. It is a book of hope because it shows them to be not passive victims but courageous fighters and organizers in the fact of natural disaster, uncaring bureaucracy, agencies and governments whose priorities lie elsewhere, and traditional structures inimical to their needs. The women and their oganizations described here have produced demonstrably effective approaches for more sustainable uses of their resources and environments, challenging conventional accounts of their roles.

For all societies, the common denominator of gender is female subordination. For women of the Third World the effects of this position are worsened by economic crisis, the legacy of colonialism, as well as patriarchal attitudes and economic crises. Feminist critique has introduced the gender factor to development theory, arguing that the equal distribution of the benefits of economic development can only be achieved through a radical restructuring of the process of development. This important new book reviews both policy and practice in Latin America, Africa and Asia and raises thought-provoking questions concerning the role of development planning and the empowerment of women.

On the social and economic condition of women in Latin America, Africa, and Asia; contributed articles.

Ideal for researching the status and activities of Third World women For quick, reliable coverage of women's issues in developing countries, here is a concise reference work written by a team of more than 80 international experts. The Encyclopedia comprises 68 essays that cover the entire Third World, from Africa to Asia, from the Near East to South and Central America, from the South Pacific to the Caribbean. The women authors are acknowledged experts from Harvard University, the World Bank, the United Nations Development Fund for Women, the University of Nairobi, the International Labor Organization, and other institutions, who summarize the most recent scholarship on a wide range of important subjects. Thoroughly indexed and cross-referenced, the Encyclopedia is an ideal starting point for in-depth research in such areas as: recent developments in the prevention of violence against women * the conditions of women's lives across regions and countries * women's participation in government, science, and technology * hidden curriculum issues in higher education * an overview of women's experiences as small-scale entrepreneurs A feminist viewpoint enhances the coverage Informed throughout by a feminist perspective, the Encyclopedia focuses on traditional women's concerns, such as political participation, human rights, nutrition, housework, the family, equality, health, and more. But the coverage also extends to such issues as domestic and sexual violence, creation of women-friendly cities, patriarchal ideologies as religious beliefs, the needs of older women, new jobs and exploitation in industrial production, AIDS, the gender consequences of ecological devastation, movements for change, and other areas of increasing awareness. Geographical entries cover all the major regions and countries and discuss conditions and issues in each area. Spotlights the newest and best sources The Encyclopedia brings together information that has been widely scattered in sources from many disciplines. An introduction by the editor illuminates the most important issues faced by Third World women today and analyzes the drastically changed global situation and how the changes impacted on the material presented in the Encyclopedia. Reference aids make information retrieval easy An annotated bibliography of the latest and most important sources, as well as a reference list at the end of each chapter, provide quick access to current literature. A thorough name and subject index makes it easy to pinpoint information. Special Features Offers articles by recognized scholars and activists on gender and developmental issues * Presents a variety of perspectives by women from both industrialized and developing countries * Summarizes the literature of established disciplines, bringing together important material scattered in many sources * Identifies new areas for research affecting gender and development in emerging fields, such as legal rights * Outlines strategies for action in such critical areas as ecology and urban issues * An annotated bibliography and list of references at end of each chapter make it easy to expand your research