Women Across Cultures: A Global Perspective

by Shawn Meghan Burn

This text examines the role that culture plays in women's past oppression and future equality, but argues that the most important issue facing women—their lower status and power—is universal. After a thorough explanation of why women lack equal power, Burn suggests what we might do to change this condition. This activist perspective offers the reader a clear understanding of the steps that can be taken to improve the circumstances of women's lives.

Genres: Feminism, Nonfiction, Textbooks, Philosophy, History, Gender, Womens Studies

Paperback

First published December 31, 1999

About the author

Shawn Meghan Burn, PhD is Professor of Psychology at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, California. Her research and writing focuses on the application of psychology to solve individual, group, organizational, and societal problems. She is a passionate teacher of psychology, committed to showing people how they can use psychology to solve problems and maximize human potential. She is the author of four books and many research articles and writes a blog (Presence of Mind) for Psychology Today.

Reviews

[Nathan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disliked a lot of what this book said especially regarding queer issues. It was not an accurate or modern reflection of a lot of what WGST is supposed to be about and it misrepresented a lot of communities.

Read for WGST 2205.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a good textbook. It reinterates key concepts in the beginning and end of each chapter, in the questions, and throughout the book. I particularly like the action steps at the end of each chapter. The political system of the US in comparison to other countries is particularly interesting to me.

It is due for an update. There are typos, transgender people and gender identity are not mentioned, and I've probably missed a few more things since I closed the book in April. I remember that it discussed sexuality without explaining what that was, rather it explained what it was not. I resorted to the internet for more clarity. I know it is a book about women globally, but I really think the Equal Rights Amendment, which has not yet been passed by all states in over 40 years needs mention.

[Beauty♡ AndtheBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a textbook not a bad read, for the most part I could follow along quite easily. I feel like this book could be like 1/3 shorter because I constantly felt like I was rereading a lot of the same paragraphs over and over within the same chapter, so there was a lot of the same thing being said over just with different wording. Interesting viewpoints and educational so overall for the most part I enjoyed this as far as required textbook reading goes.

[Lizzy · Rating 2 out of 5]

A good text for reference, but a terrible read. Incredibly dull and repetitive.

[Lindsay Allyson · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was all right. Nothing too spectacular, but not hard to read. Actually it was pretty easy to read. There was some good information presented. However, a lot of it wasn't new to me and I hardly consider myself an expert on women's issues (yet). Definitely glad I rented this book.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this for my semester in Women in Humanities class. Lots of facts that help you understand what feminism is really about and why feminist's movements were and are still important.

[Jennifer Wigmore · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very important book for all women to read.