This book provides a much-needed survey of the discrimination and violence against women in developing countries, and identifies the literature and resources available about this topic. Because of improvements in communication technologies, the West has become increasingly aware of horrific examples of ongoing discrimination and violence against individual women in developing countries. As a result, more attention is being paid to the gender bias and hardship that women in developing countries face in their everyday lives, and the importance of these women in economic development and the alleviation of poverty is starting to be recognized. Women in Developing Countries: A Reference Handbook addresses topics like the status of women in developing countries; their access to education, health care, and the political process; their legal status; the extent to which they are considered property; female genital mutilation and other harmful practices; and other timely issues. This book also provides statistical information, data on selected nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and other organizations set up to improve the lives and advance the status of women, and sources of further information in print and nonprint media.

Table of Contents:
Preface List of Developing Countries 1 Background and History Basic Concepts Important to the Study of Women in Developing Countries Sex Roles versus Gender Roles Social Stratification Patriarchy Cultural Relativism History of Women in Development The United Nations Development Agencies and Approaches Structural Adjustment Programs Millennium Development Goals Overview of Women's Status and Experiences in the World Today Family Relations Marriage Preference for Males Education Health Care Nutrition Occupational Health Contraceptives Abortion Maternal Mortality Female Genital Mutilation Sexually Transmitted Diseases Prostitution and Sex Trafficking Violence against Women Employment Women's Rights as Human Rights Empowerment of Women References 2 Problems, Controversies, and Solutions Problems Tradition Education Marriage and Family Preference for Male Children Child Marriage Domestic Violence Dowry Health Care Family Planning Maternal Mortality Prostitution and Sex Trafficking HIV/AIDS and Other Sexually Transmitted Diseases Women and Work Ability to Work Outside the Home Gender Gap in Pay and Positions Microenterprise Land Ownership and Property Rights Information and Communications Technologies Female Refugees and Victims of War Controversies Female Genital Mutilation Abortion Honor Killings Solutions References 3 U.S. Concerns Immigration Asylum Refugee Status Determination of Asylum Derivative Asylum Reasons for Asylum Female Genital Mutilation Domestic Abuse, Rape Religion Forced Marriage Detention While Awaiting Asylum Determination Guestworker Programs in the United States Trafficking Immigrants' Life in the United States Family Planning Policy Lack of Ratification by the United States of Key International Conventions Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women The Convention on the Rights of the Child References 4 Chronology References 5 Biographical Sketches Aminah Al-Said Aduke Alakija Corazon Aquino Aung San Suu Kyi Sirimavo Bandaranaike Ela Bhatt Benazir Bhutto Ester Boserup Elise Boulding Angie Brooks-Randolph Charlotte Bunch Violeta Barrios de Chamorro Eugenia Charles Gaositwe Keagakwa Tibe Chiepe Jeanne Martin Cissé Shirin Ebadi Nawal El Saadawi Ana Figuero lndira Gandhi Lydia Gueiler Tejada Asha Hagi Asma Jahangir Annie Ruth Baeta Jiagge Fatima Jinnah Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf Begum Liaquat Ali Khan Gwendoline Konie Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga Bertha Lutz Wangari Maathai Rigoberta Menchu Tum Fatima Mernissi Shushila Nayar Teurai Ropa Nhongo Isabel Peron Fumilayo Ransome-Kuti Aisha Ráteb Dhanvanthi Rama Rau Nibuya Sabalsajaray Gita Sen Huda Shaarawi Leticia Ramos Shahani Helvi Sipilä Margaret Snyder Mu Sochua Mary Tadesse Sakena Yacoobi Begum Khaleda Zia References 6 Facts and Data International Conventions and Protocols The Charter of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women Universal Declaration of Human Rights Convention on the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others Equal Remuneration Convention Convention on the Political Rights of Women Convention on the Nationality of Married Women Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention Convention against Discrimination in Education International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights Declaration on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women Declaration on the Protection of Women and Children in Emergency and Armed Conflict Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families Fourth World Conference on Women Beijing Declaration Home Work Convention Protocol to Prevent, Suppress, and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, Supplementing the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women and Peace and Security Regional Conventions: Inter-American Conventions, Statutes, and Declarations American Convention on Human Rights ("Pact of San Jose, Costa Rica") Additional Protocol to the American Convention on Human Rights in the Area of Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights ("Protocol of San Salvador") Statute of the Inter-American Commission of Women Inter-American Convention on the Granting of Civil Rights to Women Inter-American Convention on the Granting of Political Rights to Women Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment, and Eradication of Violence against Women ("Convention of Belem do Para") Inter-American Convention on Support Obligations Convention on the Nationality of Women Regional Conventions: Africa African (Banjul) Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa Condition of Women in Developing Countries Health Female Genital Mutilation or Cutting Education Domestic Violence and Rape Prostitution and Sex Trafficking Voting and Elections Labor and Employment References 7 Directory of Organizations Nongovernmental Organizations Government and Government-Affiliated Organizations UN Entities 8 Selected Print and Nonprint Resources Books Agency Reports Journals and Journal Articles Videos and Electronic Resources Websites and Blogs Glossary Index About the Author