Congratulations to Prof. Rebecca Cook, whose edited volume, FRONTIERS OF GENDER EQUALITY: TRANSNATIONAL LEGAL PERSPECTIVES, was published in May 2023 by the University of Pennsylvania Press. You can access Professor Cook’s entire introduction to the book online, as well as abstracts of each chapter through the Table of Contents below:
Rebecca J. Cook, “Many Paths to Gender Equality,” in Frontiers of Gender Equality: Transnational Legal Perspectives (University of Pennsylvania Press, 2023). (publisher’s page). Introduction now online.
In “Many Paths to Gender Equality,” Rebecca Cook shows how a chorus of voices (25 authors) can introduce new and different discourses about the wrongs of gender discrimination and explain the multiple dimensions of gender equality. The wrongs of discrimination can best be understood from the perspective of the discriminated. The book illustrates how gender discrimination persists and grows in new and different contexts, how it continues to be normalized and camouflaged, and how it intersects with other axes of subordination, such as indigeneity, religion, and poverty, to create new forms of intersectional discrimination. With the benefit of hindsight, the book’s contributors reconstruct gender equalities in concrete situations, including women who were violated sexually and physically,and those needing access to necessary health care, including abortion.
Part I of the book focuses on “Understanding Gender Inequality and Equality.” Part II concerns “Advancing Gender Equality through Human Rights Treaties”. In Part III, significantly entitled “Looking Back to Move Forward,” Chapters 16 through 20 use a “rewriting” process to “envision more fulsome gender equalities” for the future. They do so by analyzing and then rewriting historic decisions, documents, and even international policy guidance:
“Gender Equality in Health Care: Reenvisioning CEDAW General Recommendation 24,” Joanna N. Erdman and Mariana Prandini Assis observe how Article 12’s goal to eliminate all forms of discrimination against women in the field of health care was interpreted in 1999 through General Recommendation 24 (GR 24), within a particular gender equality paradigm of its era. After careful analysis, the authors propose text for a future general recommendation on gender equality in health care. Abstract of Chapter 16.
In Chapter 20, “Restoring Mai Mapingure’s Equal Citizenship,” Charles Ngwena and Rebecca Cook show how the Supreme Court of Zimbabwe’s 2014 decision in the case of Mai (Mrs.) Mildred Mapingure, denied abortion after rape, exemplifies the systemic nature of status subordination that women seeking access to safe abortion may experience, especially in the health care and criminal and justice systems. After analyzing Mai Mapingure’s position as a “gendered citizen” under Zimbabwean constitutions, they rewrite the Supreme Court’s decision in ways that would restore her equal citizenship. Abstract of Chapter 20. —————————————————————————————————————– FRONTIERS OF GENDER EQUALITY: TRANSNATIONAL LEGAL PERSPECTIVES ed. Rebecca J. Cook (University of Pennsylvania Press, 2023)
Foreword by Cecilia Medina Quiroga
Introduction: Many Paths to Gender EqualityFull text online. by Rebecca J. Cook .
Part I. UNDERSTANDING GENDER INEQUALITY AND EQUALITY
1. Faces of Gender Inequality by Sophia Moreau. Abstract online.
2. Challenging the Frontiers of Gender Equality: Women at Work by Sandra Fredman. Abstract online.
3. A Prioritarian Account of Gender Equality by Shreya Atrey. Abstract online.
4. Queer Rights Talk: The Rhetoric of Equality Rights for LGBTQ+ Peoples by Daniel Del Gobbo. Abstract online.
5. CEDAW Reservations and Contested Equality Claims by Siobhán Mullally. Abstract online.
6. Gender Equality and the Sustainable Development Goals: Discursive Practices in Uncertain Times by Marieme S. Lo. Abstract online.
Part II. ADVANCING GENDER EQUALITY THROUGH HUMAN RIGHTS TREATIES
International Treaties 7. Fifty Years On: The Curious Case of Intersectional Discrimination in the ICCPR, with a Postscript, by Shreya Atrey. Abstract online.
8. Like Birds of a Feather? ICESCR and Women’s Socioeconomic Equality by Meghan Campbell. Abstract online.
9. Gender Equality Untethered? CEDAW’s Contribution to Intersectionality by Loveday Hodson. Abstract online.
Regional Treaties 10. Gender Equality in the European Court of Human Rights by Stéphanie Hennette Vauchez Abstract online
11. Gender Equality within the Framework of the European Social Charter by Karin Lukas and Colm Ó Cinnéide. Abstract online.
12. Transformative Gender Equality in the Inter-American System of Human Rights by Verónica Undurraga. Abstract online.
13. African Gender Equalities, by Fareda Banda. Abstract online.
20. Restoring Mai Mapingure’s Equal Citizenship by Charles G. Ngwena and Rebecca J. Cook. Abstract online.
Conclusion. Taking Stock of Gender Equality by Francisca Pou Giménez. Abstract online.
Table of Cases Table of Legislation, Treaties, and Other Relevant Instruments Notes Index Contributors Acknowledgments
FRONTIERS OF GENDER EQUALITY: TRANSNATIONAL LEGAL PERSPECTIVES, Ed. Rebecca J. Cook, (University of Pennsylvania Press, 2023) Purchase options: North and South America, Rest of the Worl _________________________________________________________________________________________ Contributed by: The International Reproductive and Sexual Health Law Program, reprohealth*law at utoronto.ca. See Program website for our Publications, Research resources, and Reprohealthlaw Commentaries Series. TO JOIN THE REPROHEALTHLAW BLOG: enter your email address in the upper right corner of this blog, then check your email to confirm the subscription.
Frontiers of Gender Equality 