Gender and Politics

Very Short Introductions: Brilliant, Sharp, InspiringGender is a central but contested concept in world politics. Distinct from biological sex, gender is social in nature, prescribing how people should behave and what roles they are suited to play. While these ideas vary across countries and over time, they are about relationships of power^—^and thus, about politics. This Very Short Introduction explores key questions and approaches in the study of gender and politics. It shows how gender structures political concepts, shapes patterns in political participation, and informs political debates and public policies, drawing on examples from around the globe. In the context of rising anti-gender movements, it offers tools for understanding what is at stake in contemporary political debates about gender. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.