Making policy not tea : women in Parliament /

During the 60 years since 1933, 36 women have been elected to the New Zealand Parliament. This slim volume contains a series of sometimes lengthy quotations by these women on such topics as starting out, family life, lifestyle, housework, and gender politics. Their relationship with male colleagues, whose chauvinism they often encountered, and with other female legislators of their own and the other political party; support or otherwise from spouses; hardship on their young children; the distance between home and capitol--these are problems with which women members of the American Congress or the British House of Commons are only too familiar. Criticism of the rules and behavior of the New Zealand Parliament is frequently similar to criticism about Washington, and so are some of the comments regarding the opposite party. Includes biographical sketches and photos. An index, however, is sorely missed. A glossary of terms pertaining to parliamentary and New Zealand politics and perhaps a political map of the country would greatly enhance the usefulness of this anecdotal and very readable book. W. S. G. Kohn; emeritus, Illinois State University