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Further ReadingSource: Focus on Gender, Vol. 2, No. 3, North-South Co-operation (Oct., 1994), pp. 88-89Published by: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. on behalf of Oxfam GBStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/4030255 .

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88 Focus on Gender

emphasising the need for looking at devel- opment from a 'bottom up', rather than 'top-down' approach, thereby reversing the 'hierarchy of knowledge'. Topics include a discussion of the contentious nature of con- cepts such as universally-valid 'women's interests'.

Having established this theoretical framework, Kabeer then applies theory to practical examples, discussing key issues in current development including the evolu- tion of the concept of the household, popu- lation and reproductive rights, measuring poverty, and poverty alleviation measures which actually impoverish women, public planning through social cost-benefit analy- sis, empowerment, and key tools for gen- der analysis including women's 'triple role'. Gender analysis, first used to ques- tion the idea of the family as a co-operative managed by a benevolent household head, is extended to examine the institutionalised nature of gender inequalities in every facet of human experience at all levels.

For many of Naila Kabeer's readers, Reversed Realities may present nothing especially new in either feminist discourse or gender analysis and development, but they should welcome its publication never- theless, as perhaps the best synthesis of the subject yet to be published. For other read- ers, including students, who are new to gender and development, Reversed Realities represents a text book that is full of the rel- evance of its topics - gender analysis and development - to planning, evaluation, and practice. For the interested general reader its accessible style affords an oppor- tunity to understand, and evaluate, his or her own world-view of gender relations.

Review by Christopher Peters, a researcher for Oxfam's programme activities in Sudan.

Further ed

Reaganomics and Women: Structural Adjustment US Style by Alt-WID Collective, $3.50, Alt-WID, US - address as above

Dignity and Daily Bread: New Forms of Economic Organising among Poor Women in the Third World and the First, ed. Sheila Rowbotham and Swasti Mitter - exhibits the dynamism, born of necessity, of women workers in devising their own strategies of empowerment. Presents case studies from Mexico, Tanzania, India and Britain. Routledge, 1994.

Women Transforming Politics: Worldwide Strat- egies for Empowerment, ed. Jil Bystydzienski. Highlights 13 countries, examining the effect of different national and cultural experiences on women's empowerment strategies. Indiana University Press, 1992.

Development, Crises and Alternative Visions, Gita Sen and Caren Grown. A key book for development practitioners, giving recommendations for the formation of alternative development policies which reflect a feminist version of a better world. Monthly Review Press, 1987

International Labour Standards and Women Workers: Information Kit: a multi-media information kit on women workers' rights, to promote awareness and improve the economic and social status of women. International Labour Office (ILO), 1993

Methods of Measuring Women's Economic Activity: a technical report from the UN, presenting various methods for gathering other sources of data to improve coverage of women's work, and providing guide- lines for setting up gender sensitive tabulations. Examines actual contributions of women to the economy in over 20 countries. UN Publications, 1993.

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Resources 89

Women in Grassroots Communication: Effecting Global Change, ed. Pilar Riano: explores the informal and formal networks that women use in their own communities to inform and communicate. Addresses the issues of identity, representation, and leadership and looks at the emergence of women in the mass media and the development of new competencies. Sage Publications, 1994.

Women Empowering Communication: A Resource Book on Women and the Globalisation of Media ed. Margaret Gallagher and Lilia Quindoza-Santiago: contains reports commissioned by the 1994 Bangkok Conference on Women Empowering Communication, concerning the growth of mass media, alternative media, develop- ment support communications.

Directory of Third World Women's Publi- cations: this extensive directory of newletter, pamphlets, bulletins, reports and other publications is organised by region and country and is designed to facilitate both networking and activism among women everywhere. Compiled by ISIS. ISIS International, 1990.

Worldwide Network: 1993-1994 Directory of Women in the Environment: a list of 1900 women working in the field of natural resource management, drawn from 115 countries and territories. WorldWIDE Network Inc., May 1994.

Bananas, Beaches and Bases: Making Feminist Sense of International Politics, Cynthia Enloe: twines the threads of seemingly isolated economic and poltical phenomena into a single rope - the international political system. Makes visible the work of women in both perpetuating, and challenging, the status quo. Shopping at Benetton, wearing Levis, working as a nanny (or employing one) or booking a holdiay are all examples of foreign policy in action. Pandora Press, UK, 1989.

The Global Consumer: Best Buys to Help the Third World ed. Phil Wells and Mandy Jaffer: A guide which discusses the issues as well as identifying fairly-traded brand name products. Gollancz, 1991

The Trade Trap: Poverty and the Global Commodity Markets, Belinda Coote: Shows how terms of trade between North and South disadvantage poor producers, and how UNCTAD and GATT fail to protect the interests of developing nations. Recommends action by governments and consumers to support the Fair Trade movement. Oxfam, 1992

Oxfam Gender Information Network Directory: a new network begun by Oxfam in 1994. Open to all gender and development practitioners interested in linking, sharing information on best practice, etc. The network includes Oxfam staff working in the UK/Ireland and in the field, Oxfam's existing partners, Southern and Northern organisations working on gender and/or with a feminist agenda. Write for a questionnaire to Sue Smith, Gender Team, Oxfam, 274 Banbury Road, Oxford OX2 7DZ.

Organisations working on co-operation Vrouwenberaad Ontwikkelingssamen- werking: network of professional women in Women in Development (WID) in the Netherlands, started in 1978. Organises special issue meetings, promotes action research, publishes position papers, advises Dutch development agencies on empower- ment of women, participates in international discussions e.g. with WIDE, liaises with political parties and action groups in Netherlands. PO Box 77, 2340 Oegstgeest, The Netherlands, tel. (0) 71 159159.

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