Women's Troubles - by Claire Pierson (Hardcover)

About the Book

Women's Troubles sets out to capture the complexities of feminist movement building in the divided society of Northern Ireland, contributing to ongoing analysis of contemporary global feminisms.

Book Synopsis

How do feminist movements develop and organise in ethno-nationally divided societies? How does this challenge our understandings of contemporary fourth wave feminism? Women's Troubles sets out to answer these questions using rich empirical data and analysis in an examination of feminist activism after the Northern Irish peace agreement. Utilising feminist frameworks and debates on movement building, policymaking, abortion rights, gender-based violence and the UN women, peace and security agenda, Claire Pierson interrogates the opportunities and challenges in articulating a feminist voice and creating feminist spaces in the conflict transformational politics and society. Capturing the complexities of contemporary feminist movement building in a divided society, Women's Troubles contributes to ongoing analysis of contemporary global feminisms.

From the Back Cover

Feminist movement building is largely theorised and understood from the view of established peaceful liberal democracies. This book illustrates that there is much to be gleaned from an exploration of feminist and gender activism in a society emerging from division and violent conflict.

Providing a comprehensive overview of the women's movement in Northern Ireland, Women's Troubles takes the 1998 peace agreement in Northern Ireland as a critical juncture point. It argues that alternative political identities, namely feminism, have created spaces both within and outside formal politics to articulate a collective feminist voice and pursue feminist goals. Drawing on theoretical debates in feminism on movement building, policymaking, abortion rights, gender-based violence and the UN women, peace and security agenda, Pierson examines both the opportunities and ongoing challenges in articulating a feminist vision and creating feminist spaces in a society and politics dominated by ethno-national antagonisms.

The volume sets out to capture the complexities of feminist movement building in a divided society and contribute to ongoing analysis of contemporary global feminisms. It deepens understanding of feminist and gender activism emerging in societies and politics defined by violent conflict and ethno-nationalism.

About the Author

Claire Pierson is a Senior Lecturer in Politics at the University of Liverpool