Gender
In World Perspective
5th Edition
Published on 22. May 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
216 pages
978-1-5095-6885-7 (ISBN)
Description
How can we understand gender in the contemporary world? What psychological differences now exist between women and men? How are masculinities and femininities made? And how is gender entwined in global politics and debates over trans issues?
Raewyn Connell and Tristan Bridges - leading scholars of gender and inequality - answer these questions and more. Their updated revision provides a sophisticated yet accessible introduction to modern gender studies, covering empirical research from all around the world, in addition to theory and politics. As well as introducing the field, Gender: In World Perspective provides a powerful contemporary framework for gender analysis with a strong and distinctive global awareness. Highlighting the multidimensional character of gender relations, Connell and Bridges show how to link personal life with large-scale organizational structures, and how gender politics changes its form in changing situations.
The fifth edition of this influential book brings the statistical picture of gender inequalities up to date, offering new, close-focus case studies of gender research. Like previous editions, it examines gender politics and global power relations, but with added discussion around contemporary issues of intersectionality, populism, and "anti-gender" politics, gender-based violence, trans struggles, and environmental change. It also speaks at the intimate level, about embodied gender and personal relationships.
Gender: In World Perspective moves from personal experience to global problems, offering a unique perspective on gender issues today.
Raewyn Connell and Tristan Bridges - leading scholars of gender and inequality - answer these questions and more. Their updated revision provides a sophisticated yet accessible introduction to modern gender studies, covering empirical research from all around the world, in addition to theory and politics. As well as introducing the field, Gender: In World Perspective provides a powerful contemporary framework for gender analysis with a strong and distinctive global awareness. Highlighting the multidimensional character of gender relations, Connell and Bridges show how to link personal life with large-scale organizational structures, and how gender politics changes its form in changing situations.
The fifth edition of this influential book brings the statistical picture of gender inequalities up to date, offering new, close-focus case studies of gender research. Like previous editions, it examines gender politics and global power relations, but with added discussion around contemporary issues of intersectionality, populism, and "anti-gender" politics, gender-based violence, trans struggles, and environmental change. It also speaks at the intimate level, about embodied gender and personal relationships.
Gender: In World Perspective moves from personal experience to global problems, offering a unique perspective on gender issues today.
Reviews / Votes
"My thanks to Raewyn Connell and Tristan Bridges for this timely reference book on gender, which revisits theoretical debates and research contributions from different latitudes in the context of a global backlash and the struggle for equality and non-discrimination as a civilizational horizon."Teresa Valdes, Gender and Equity Observatory
"Connell and Bridges show how gender has shaped power relations in the postcolonial world. Combining global and local perspectives, they bring in the rich harvest of gender research worldwide. This book is essential reading and a miracle."
Ilse Lenz, Ruhr University Bochum
More details
Series
Edition
5th edition
Language
English
Place of publication
Oxford
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 153 mm
Width: 229 mm
Thickness: 19 mm
Weight
320 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-5095-6885-7 (9781509568857)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Book
05/2026
5th Edition
Polity Press
€64.50
Shipment within 15-20 days
Persons
Raewyn Connell is Professor Emerita at the University of Sydney.
Tristan Bridges is Professor of Sociology and Faculty Affiliate of Feminist Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Tristan Bridges is Professor of Sociology and Faculty Affiliate of Feminist Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Content
Preface
1. The question of gender
Noticing gender amidst global backlash
Understanding gender
Defining gender
Conclusion
2. Gender research: five examples
Case 1: Gender in high school - United States
Case 2. Empire, feminism, and race - Colombia
Case 3. Violence, young men, and masculinity - Australia
Case 4. Living on the Edge: Hijra in South India
Case 5. Refugee women and culture - Turkey and Syria
Conclusion
3. Sex differences and gendered bodies
Sexual reproduction and difference
Explaining the difference: nature? culture? both?
Sex similarities research
Social embodiment and the reproductive arena
4. Theory and theorists: a short global history
Introduction: Raden Ajeng Kartini
Imperial Europe and its colonies
From Sigmund to Simone
From National Liberation to Women's Liberation
Re-alignments: queer, intersectional, environmental
Global politics and postcolonial knowledge
Conclusion
5. Gender relations
Gender as a social structure
Intersectionality
Four dimensions of gender relations
1. Power relations
2. Economic relations
3. Emotional relations
4. Symbolic relations
Crisis tendencies and change
6. Personal life
How gender is made: socialization theory and depth psychology
Gender identity
Social embodiment and change in gender relations
Gender projects and active learning
Gender transitions and trans groups
Conclusion
7. Work, economy and globalization
Gendered labour
Gendered corporations and markets
The 'gender equality paradox'
Feminist theory on the gendered economy
Globalization and gender
Conclusion
8. Gender politics
Movements in gender politics
Gendered states and governance
Gender politics on a world scale
Digital politics: backlash and counter-publics
Toward gender democracy
Afterword
References
Index
1. The question of gender
Noticing gender amidst global backlash
Understanding gender
Defining gender
Conclusion
2. Gender research: five examples
Case 1: Gender in high school - United States
Case 2. Empire, feminism, and race - Colombia
Case 3. Violence, young men, and masculinity - Australia
Case 4. Living on the Edge: Hijra in South India
Case 5. Refugee women and culture - Turkey and Syria
Conclusion
3. Sex differences and gendered bodies
Sexual reproduction and difference
Explaining the difference: nature? culture? both?
Sex similarities research
Social embodiment and the reproductive arena
4. Theory and theorists: a short global history
Introduction: Raden Ajeng Kartini
Imperial Europe and its colonies
From Sigmund to Simone
From National Liberation to Women's Liberation
Re-alignments: queer, intersectional, environmental
Global politics and postcolonial knowledge
Conclusion
5. Gender relations
Gender as a social structure
Intersectionality
Four dimensions of gender relations
1. Power relations
2. Economic relations
3. Emotional relations
4. Symbolic relations
Crisis tendencies and change
6. Personal life
How gender is made: socialization theory and depth psychology
Gender identity
Social embodiment and change in gender relations
Gender projects and active learning
Gender transitions and trans groups
Conclusion
7. Work, economy and globalization
Gendered labour
Gendered corporations and markets
The 'gender equality paradox'
Feminist theory on the gendered economy
Globalization and gender
Conclusion
8. Gender politics
Movements in gender politics
Gendered states and governance
Gender politics on a world scale
Digital politics: backlash and counter-publics
Toward gender democracy
Afterword
References
Index