[Discussion] PUBL.- Yvonne Corcoran-Nantes, Central Asian Women Confronting Transition

[gonul@pultar.org]

From: Yvonne Corcoran-Nantes <Yvonne.Corcoran-Nantes@flinders.edu.au>

PUBL.- Yvonne Corcoran-Nantes, Central Asian Women Confronting Transition

Title: Lost Voices - Central Asian Women Confronting Transition
Author: Yvonne Corcoran-Nantes
ISBN/1 84277 536 7 hbk  1 84277 537 5 pbk

Features: Notes Select Bibliography Index 224pp Metric Demy format

Library Categories: Central Asia Women's Studies Politics

Publication Date: March 2005


Key Points:

 - Unique insights into the dynamics of the break-up of the Soviet Union and
   Central Asian independence
 - Original interviews with women in government, women's organisations, and
   isolated rural areas
 - A primary text for Central Asian studies


More Information about the Book:

Central Asia is considered to be the 'forgotten world' of the former Soviet
Union, and Central Asian women constitute the 'lost voices' within those
regions. This book looks at how the shift to Western capitalist ideals has
affected gender relations. The uneasy synthesis between socialism and Islam
under the Soviet regime offered many women considerable status and personal
freedom, but these gains have been rapidly eroded by 'democratization'. In
contrast to many commentators, the author argues that the main threat to the
socio- political status of women in Central Asia today is not Islamic
fundamentalism, but the imposition of free market principles and Western
'liberal democratic' ideals.


About the Author:

Yvone Corcoran-Nantes is a senior lecturer in political and international
studies, and women's studies, at Flinders University, South Australia. She has
acted as a consultant to the UN and international and national NGOs, and was one
of the first researchers to undertake substantial research into the lives of
women in the republics of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan in the post
independence period.


Contents:

Acknowledgements
Introduction

1) Seeing Through Western Eyes and the Sound of Western Voices: Women,
   Feminism and Debate Post Perestroika
   Debating the 'Woman Question' Post Perestroika
   Changing Position: Insiders and Outsiders past and present
   Central Asian Women - The Lost Voices

2) Gender, Islam and Nationalism: Subterfuge and Resistance in the Soviet Era
   The Institutionalisation of Soviet Gender Equality: the Challenge to
Shariat
   and Adat Law in Central Asia
   The 'Offensive': the imposition of Khudjum and the unveiling of women
   Throwing Down the Gauntlet: the role of the Zhenotdel in female
emancipation
   in Central Asia
   Moving Forward, Looking Back

3) The Private and Public Face of Economic Emancipation: Gender Work and
   Education Educating Women: a flawed opportunity
   The Demise of the 'Surrogate Proletariat': women, work and defacto
inequality
   Facing the Change: female unemployment, training and opportunity in the
   Transition period

4) A Healthy Generation: Women, Environment and Reproductive Health
   After the Fall Out: women and the environmental crisis
   A Right to Choose?: women, reproduction and health Towards a Healthy
   Generation?

5) Faith, Community and Fire: Women. Islam and the Family
   Otines: women as guardians of the faith
   Solidarity, Tradition and Belonging: women, family and community
   Facing the Backlash: tradition, marriage and the spectre of domestic
violence

6) Climbing the Political Mountain: Female Empowerment and Disempowerment in
   a post-Soviet era
   Finding A Way Through - political representation in Soviet and post Soviet
   politics
   From Insiders to Outsiders: female representation in a Post Soviet Era
   Making the Change: from government organizations to non-government
   organizations

Bibliography
Index

Copies of new Zed titles announced through this list may be ordered by mail
order by academic customers in the UK, Europe and elsewhere, postage and
packing free. (Customers in the USA and Canada, please see below.)

Please send your order by email to: margaret@zedbooks.demon.co.uk or by
post, phone or fax to: Margaret Ling, Academic Marketing Manager, Zed Books
7 Cynthia Street, London N1 9JF, UK Tel -44 (0)20 7837 8466 Fax -44 (0)20
7833 3960 - quoting your full institutional address for despatch, and
payment details (credit or debit card number, expiry date and registration
address, sterling cheque or bank draft). You may also request an inspection
copy for consideration for teaching use. Please send details of the course
for which you wish to consider the book, including starting date and
expected enrolment. - Ordering details and order forms for all Zed titles
may be found on our website at www.zedbooks.co.uk

Customers in the USA please contact:

Roxanne Hunte
Palgrave, 175 Fifth Avenue
New York NY 10010-7848
Tel: +1 800 221 7945 ext 270
Fax: +1 212 777 6359
Email: roxanne.hunte@palgrave-usa.com

You will find an application form for an exam or desk copy on the Palgrave
website at: http://www.palgrave-usa.com/textbooks/textbooks.aspx

Customers in Canada please contact:

Fernwood Books Ltd.
P.O. Box 1981
Peterborough, ON K9J 7X7
Phone: 705 743-8990
Fax: 705 743-8353
E-mail: Customerservice@broadviewpress.com

Customers in Australia please contact:

Astam Books Pty Ltd
57-61 John Street
Leichhardt, Sydney NSW 2040
Tel: (02) 9566 4400
Fax: (02) 9566 4411
Email: info@astambooks.com.au


Distrib. by: Central-Eurasia-L - Announcement List for Central Eurasian Studies