Sisters in Suits

"Sisters in Suits" describes how Australian feminists took advantage of opportunities presented in the 1970s and 1980s to make inroads into the country's bureaucracy. It analyzes the bureaucratic and gender politics involved, as well as the relationship between the "femocrats" and the women's movement outside. It looks at the interplay between the domestic and the international arena - the ways in which Australian women sought to strengthen international mechanisms for raising the status of women and how this in turn reinforced domestic initiatives. It highlights the unique character of the women's budget process as a means of auditing government impact on women. Lastly, it looks at the changing environment and the vulnerability of feminist gains. "Sisters in Suits" draws on extensive interviews with the women who went into government, and tells the story of their victories and defeats. It brings to life the dilemmas facing feminists working through government, particularly in an era of managerialism and economic rationalism.