About this product

Product Identifiers

PublisherUniversity of Chicago Press

ISBN-100226741079

ISBN-139780226741079

eBay Product ID (ePID)46582234

Product Key Features

Number of Pages184 Pages

LanguageEnglish

Publication NameParité! : Sexual Equality and the Crisis of French Universalism

Publication Year2005

SubjectEurope / France, Gender Studies, Women's Studies

TypeTextbook

Subject AreaSocial Science, History

AuthorJoan Wallach Scott

SeriesChicago Studies in Practices of Meaning Ser.

FormatHardcover

Dimensions

Item Height0.1 in

Item Weight14.8 Oz

Item Length0.9 in

Item Width0.6 in

Additional Product Features

Intended AudienceScholarly & Professional

LCCN2005-050585

Reviews"This book by Joan Wallach Scott, one of the most important feminist historians writing today, is a fascinating and original discussion of the new direction taken by French feminism in the 1990s: the mouvement pour la parité, which demanded that elected offices be filled by men and women in equal numbers. Scott traces the intellectual genesis of the movement, its gaining of strength, its complex interaction with the rights of same-sex couples, and finally its partial success. Intensely thought-provoking, Parité! will be of enormous interest to anyone interested in modern European politics and history, or in feminism."--David A. Bell, The Johns Hopkins University, "This book by Joan Wallach Scott, one of the most important feminist historians writing today, is a fascinating and original discussion of the new direction taken by French feminism in the 1990s: the mouvement pour la parité, which demanded that elected offices be filled by men and women in equal numbers. Scott traces the intellectual genesis of the movement, its gaining of strength, its complex interaction with the rights of same-sex couples, and finally its partial success. Intensely thought-provoking, Parité! will be of enormous interest to anyone interested in modern European politics and history, or in feminism."--David A. Bell, The Johns Hopkins University , "This is an extraordinary book that accomplishes two formidable tasks. Here, Joan Wallach Scott not only deftly guides the reader through the complexities of contemporary debates in France on the subject of paritï¿½, a movement that asks for equal representation between men and women in public office, but also situates these debates within the broader context of political representation in France. Paritï¿½! will prove an indispensable resource for anyone interested in the history of political representation, women's struggle for political equality, and the history of modern France more generally."--Paul Friedland, Bowdoin College, "This is an extraordinary book that accomplishes two formidable tasks. Here, Joan Wallach Scott not only deftly guides the reader through the complexities of contemporary debates in France on the subject of parité, a movement that asks for equal representation between men and women in public office, but also situates these debates within the broader context of political representation in France. Parité! will prove an indispensable resource for anyone interested in the history of political representation, women's struggle for political equality, and the history of modern France more generally."--Paul Friedland, Bowdoin College , Scott's clear and historically grounded analysis will help readers understand the intricacies of French politics in general and the parity movement more specifically., "This book by Joan Wallach Scott, one of the most important feminist historians writing today, is a fascinating and original discussion of the new direction taken by French feminism in the 1990s: themouvement pour la parité,which demanded that elected offices be filled by men and women in equal numbers. Scott traces the intellectual genesis of the movement, its gaining of strength, its complex interaction with the rights of same-sex couples, and finally its partial success. Intensely thought-provoking,Parité!will be of enormous interest to anyone interested in modern European politics and history, or in feminism."--David A. Bell, The Johns Hopkins University , "This is an extraordinary book that accomplishes two formidable tasks. Here, Joan Wallach Scott not only deftly guides the reader through the complexities of contemporary debates in France on the subject ofparité,a movement that asks for equal representation between men and women in public office, but also situates these debates within the broader context of political representation in France.Parité!will prove an indispensable resource for anyone interested in the history of political representation, women's struggle for political equality, and the history of modern France more generally."--Paul Friedland, Bowdoin College , "This is an extraordinary book that accomplishes two formidable tasks. Here, Joan Wallach Scott not only deftly guides the reader through the complexities of contemporary debates in France on the subject of parité, a movement that asks for equal representation between men and women in public office, but also situates these debates within the broader context of political representation in France. Parité! will prove an indispensable resource for anyone interested in the history of political representation, women's struggle for political equality, and the history of modern France more generally."--Paul Friedland, Bowdoin College, Scott''s clear and historically grounded analysis will help readers understand the intricacies of French politics in general and the parity movement more specifically., "This book by Joan Wallach Scott, one of the most important feminist historians writing today, is a fascinating and original discussion of the new direction taken by French feminism in the 1990s: the mouvement pour la paritï¿½, which demanded that elected offices be filled by men and women in equal numbers. Scott traces the intellectual genesis of the movement, its gaining of strength, its complex interaction with the rights of same-sex couples, and finally its partial success. Intensely thought-provoking, Paritï¿½! will be of enormous interest to anyone interested in modern European politics and history, or in feminism."--David A. Bell, The Johns Hopkins University

Dewey Edition22

Dewey Decimal320/.082/0944

Table Of ContentAcknowledgments Introduction 1. The Crisis of Representation 2. The Rejection of Quotas 3. The Dilemma of Difference 4. The Campaign for Parité 5. The Discourse of the Couple 6. The Power of the Law Conclusion Notes Index

SynopsisFrance today is in the throes of a crisis about whether to represent social differences within its political system and, if so, how. It is a crisis defined by the rhetoric of a universalism that takes the abstract individual to be the representative not only of citizens but also of the nation. In Parité! Joan Wallach Scott shows how the requirement for abstraction has led to the exclusion of women from French politics. During the 1990s, le mouvement pour la parité successfully campaigned for women's inclusion in elective office with an argument that is unprecedented in the annals of feminism. The paritaristes insisted that if the abstract individual were thought of as sexed, then sexual difference would no longer be a relevant consideration in politics. Scott insists that this argument was neither essentialist nor separatist; it was not about women's special qualities or interests. Instead, parité was rigorously universalist--and for that reason was both misunderstood and a source of heated debate., France today is in the throes of a crisis about whether to represent social differences within its political system and, if so, how. It is a crisis defined by the rhetoric of a universalism that takes the abstract individual to be the representative not only of citizens but also of the nation. In Parit Joan Wallach Scott shows how the requirement for abstraction has led to the exclusion of women from French politics. During the 1990s, le mouvement pour la parit successfully campaigned for women's inclusion in elective office with an argument that is unprecedented in the annals of feminism. The paritaristes insisted that if the abstract individual were thought of as sexed, then sexual difference would no longer be a relevant consideration in politics. Scott insists that this argument was neither essentialist nor separatist; it was not about women's special qualities or interests. Instead, parit was rigorously universalist--and for that reason was both misunderstood and a source of heated debate.

LC Classification NumberHQ1236.5.F8S36 2005