In the early 1970s accompanying the current wave of globalization, conservative nationalist religious movements began using religion to oppose non-democratic and often western oriented regimes. Reasserting patriarchal gender relations presumably authorized by religion has been central to these movements. At the Fourth United Nations Congress on Women in Beijing in 1995, Muslim and Catholic delegations from diverse countries united to oppose provisions on sexuality, reproductive rights, women's health, and women's rights as human rights. In this book, scholars from eight different Muslim and Catholic communities analyze the political strategies that women are employing in these contexts ranging from acceptance of traditional doctrines to various forms of resistance, religious reinterpretation, innovation, and political action toward change and equal rights.

Overall, this stylistically accessible book provides a useful addition to the existing literature...' - Conscience

Introduction
United Nations Agenda Setting for Women and Human Rights in the Context of Late Twentieth Century Globalization; J.H.Bayes & N.Tohidi
PART I: THE CATHOLIC WORLD: CASE STUDIES
The Catholic World: An Overview; J.H.Bayes, L.Guzman-Stein & S.M.Maloney
United States Catholic Women and the Politics of Women's Rights; S.M.Maloney
The Politics of Women's Rights in Ireland; Y.Galligan & N.Ryan
The Politics of Women's Rights in Spain; C.Valiente
The Politics of Women's Rights in Central America; L.Guzman-Stein
PART II: THE MUSLIM WORLD
The Muslim World: An Overview; N.Tohidi
The Politics of Women's Rights in Turkey; A.Ayata
The Politics of Women's Rights in Iran; M.Kar, S.Ebadi, S.Sherkat & N.Tohidi
The Politics of Women's Rights in Bangladesh; N.Chowdury
The Politics of Women's Rights in Egypt; H.R.Ezzat
Conclusion; N.Tohidi & J.H.Bayes

JANE BAYES is Professor of Political Science at California State University, Northridge where she teaches in the areas of women and politics and political economy.

NAYEREH TOHIDI is Assistant Professor of Womens Studies at California State University, Northridge. She teaches in the area of sociology of gender and social change in Muslim societies.