Discrimination against women : a global survey of the economic, educational, social, and political status of women /

This is a mammoth cross-national survey of women's status, focusing in its initial chapters on legal, political, and occupational discrimination set in various contexts, including international institutions such as UN bodies, and regional institutions such as the EC. Rhoodie then provides chapter case studies on countries in Africa, Europe, North America, the "communist east bloc," Latin America, the Arab-Muslim world, and Asia. This informative if chilling work portrays women as victimized worldwide. If any theme dominates this broad overview and bibliographic gold mine, it is that the "gap between policy and practice remains wide and deep." Rhoodie also suggests that the worst perpetrators of sex discrimination are in world regions that ironically are the most active in attacking race discrimination. This volume parallels, but updates in more comprehensive fashion, Ruth Sivard's Women: A World Survey (1985) and the US Department of Commerce's "Women of the World" series (1984,1985). Useful for all levels of library reference and/or for circulation in upper-division and graduate libraries. -K. Staudt, University of Texas at El Paso

YA-- A survey of the economic, educational, social, and political status of women in the U. S., Canada, Africa, the Eastern European block, Western Europe, and Latin America in the 80s. It is organized in case studies of major countries and contains over 75 statistical tables, providing a compendium of valuable current data. The tone of the encyclopedic report is severe, its presentation of facts showing the denial of women's rights is hard but true, its advocacy for improvement is relentless. Rhoodie provides a concluding section on recommendations, a guide to information sources, and research proposals. An indispensable work that brings home the need for urgent action. --Carolyn Trachta, formerly at Clear Creek High School, TX (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.