The Futures of Women

The Futures of Women, Pamela McCorduck and Nancy Ramsey, Addison-Wesley Publishing, 1996

This book presents four different scenarios for women in the 21st century. "Backlash" concerns the banning of abortion and Western women adopting the Muslim chador due to fears for personal safety. "A Golden Age of Equality" combines Western ideas on individual rights with the belief that war is an irrational waste of resources, not an act of patriotism. Because of a sluggish, depressed world economy, women are forced to spend their time defending basic rights like nutrition and protection from domestic violence, so that little other progress is possible, a scenario called "Two Steps Forward, Two Steps Back." The fourth scenario, "Separate-And Doing Fine, Thanks!" comes about when governments, including those in the West, realign the individual/society balance more in society's favor. Women are generally pushed aside, so they form their own banks, businesses, and NGO's, and live among themselves.

This book is beyond excellent. Each scenario is equally plausible. Whatever the future actually holds, one of these scenarios, or something else entirely, depends on everyone, men and women. Here is a more than must read.