Planet Patriarchy

In 1995, the UN vowed to advance equality, development and peace for all women, everywhere. Instead, in the Beijing Declarations thirtieth anniversary year,the world is lurching dangerously away from such democratic and progressive idealsreinventing nationalist identities based on toxic-masculine values, and embracing economic policies against womens interests. This reality exists in every type of country. Why does oppression, rather than feminism, still dominate our world?This book reveals patriarchys many facesin the age of globalisation,exploringthe political systems and cultures of eight very different societies. It takes readers from the extraordinary anti-capitalist womens revolution in Kurdistan to the theocracies of Islamic State and Saudi Arabia; from Chinas one-party state to Icelands democracy; and to South Africa, Russia and El Salvadorall radically changed since the fall of apartheid, communism and military dictatorship respectively.Despite patriarchys remarkable shapeshifting powers to undermine feminist solidarity,Planet Patriarchyis equally a story of sisterhood and resistance, interviewing defenders of womens rights about their cause and their country. Gender inequality endures, everywherebut so does feminism. Campbell and Guptas fascinating discoveries show us how this timeless showdown is taking shape in, and being shaped by, the systems we live under today.