Introduction xix
just several of the pandemic diseases that continue to chal-
lenge individuals and governments, both local and global,
in recent years. Women bear a disproportionate prevalence
of infection as well as the gendered burden of caregiving
that sick and injured people need.
The instability caused by these recent and continuing
conflicts and disease outbreaks can throw a nation into
such disarray that current information about a range of
issues is nearly impossible to find. Health care statistics
become secondary to relocating a bombed hospital and
bringing in medical personnel to handle not just injuries,
but illnesses, births, and chronic health conditions. The
need for survival and subsistence affects the issues a coun-
try can address and what can be tracked.
Nations also are reluctant to gather data about practices
deemed illegal or immoral, making it difficult to find ba-
sic information about people and their experiences, such
as LGBT communities, people who seek abortions, and
those who have experienced a range of types of violence.
Out of 53 nations on the continent of Africa, for instance,
70 percent have laws making same-sex relationships illegal
and punishable by fines or, in some cases, death. Rarely are
indigenous peoples mentioned, much less centered, in dis-
cussions of nations and land. Whenever it was possible to
find information, we prioritized examining official and un-
official information about LGBT and indigenous peoples as
a way of making visible those who are often not seen.
At times, the information our contributors could find
about particular topics was incomplete or inconsistent.
We include the most recent statistics and context possible
and encourage readers to use the “Further Resources” sec-
tions for more detailed research and information. We hope
these volumes inspire critical thinking, conversation, and
a desire to know more about the lives of women around
the world. While many women have made progress, much
work remains to be done. We also hope these essays evoke
a commitment to work to improve the lives of women and
all marginalized people.
Further Resources
Acharya, Keya. 2009. “Environment-India: Women Farmers
Ready to Beat Climate Change.” March 16. Retrieved from
http://www.ipsnews.net/2009/03/environment-india-women
-farmers-ready-to-beat-climate-change.
Aggestam, Karinand, and Annika Bergman-Rosamond. 2016.
“Swedish Feminist Foreign Policy in the Making: Ethics,
Politics, and Gender.” September 15. Retrieved from https://
www.ethicsandinternationalaffairs.org/2016/swedish
-feminist-foreign-policy-in-the-making-ethics-politics-and
-gender/#fn-11224-3.
Akbar, Syed. 2015. “Rajasthan’s Women Farmers Beat Climate
Change, Global Warming.” November 26. Retrieved from http://
timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Rajasthans
-women-farmers-beat-climate-change-global-warming
/articleshow/49935536.cms.
Al Jazeera. 2015. “Saudi Arabia Recalls Its Ambassador to Swe-
den.” March 11. Retrieved from http://www.aljazeera.com
/news/2015/03/saudi-arabia-recalls-ambassador-sweden
-150311123334400.html.
Amnesty International. 2016. “Female Refugees Face Physical
Assault, Exploitation and Sexual Harassment on their Jour-
ney through Europe.” January 18. Retrieved from https://
www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2016/01/female-refugees
-face-physical-assault-exploitation-and-sexual-harassment
-on-their-journey-through-europe.
Banerjee, Sikata. 2003. “Gender and Nationalism: The Mascu-
linization of Hinduism and Female Political Participation in
India.” Women’s Studies International Forum 26.2: 167–179.
Barnagarwala, Tabassum. 2014. “India Has Highest Number
of Maternal Deaths.” May 7. Retrieved from http://indian
express.com/article/india/india-others/india-has-highest
-number-of-maternal-deaths.
BBC. 2016. “Guide to Nationalist Parties Challenging Europe.”
May 23. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.com/news/world
-europe-36130006.
Bigio, Jamille. 2016. “More Women in Global Security Forces
Will Raise Effectiveness.” October 9. Retrieved from http://
www.newsweek.com/more-women-global-security-forces
-will-raise-effectiveness-507416.
Bigio, Jamille, and Rachel B. Vogelstein. 2016. “How Wom-
en’s Participation in Conflict Prevention and Resolution
Advances U.S. Interests.” October. Retrieved from http://
www.cfr.org/peacekeeping/womens-participation-conflict
-prevention-resolution-advances-us-interests/p38416.
Casey, Nicholas. 2016. “Colombia Signs Peace Agreement with
FARC after 5 Decades of War.” September 26. Retrieved
from https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/27/world/americas
/colombia-farc-peace-agreement.html.
Center for Reproductive Rights. 2009. “Indian Activist Sues
State for Neglecting Maternal Mortality.” August 14. Re-
trieved from https://www.reproductiverights.org/document
/indian-activist-sues-state-for-neglecting-maternal-mortality.
Center for Reproductive Rights. 2012. “Madhya Pradesh Court
Declares Violation of Women’s Fundamental Rights in
Sandesh Bansal Decision.” February 29. Retrieved from
https://www.reproductiverights.org/press-room/madhya
-pradesh-court-declares-violation-of-women%E2%80%99s
-fundamental-rights-in-sandesh-bansal-d.
Chiwara, Letty, and Maria Karadenizli. 2008. “Mapping Aid Effec-
tiveness and Gender Equality.” Retrieved from https://www
.unicef.org/socialpolicy/files/Mapping_Aid_Effectiveness
_And_Gender_Equality.pdf.
Clinton, Hillary Rodham. 1995. “Remarks to the U.N. 4th World
Conference on Women Plenary Session.” September 5. Re-
trieved from http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/
hillaryclintonbeijingspeech.htm.
