Making of Women Trade Unionists

Gill Kirton is Senior Lecturer in Employment Relations in the School of Business and Management at Queen Mary, University of London, UK. As a researcher she is part of Queen Mary's Centre for Research in Equality and Diversity. She has published a number of journal articles, book chapters and papers, on topics ranging from women and trade unionism to gender and race in employment and diversity management.

'...a stimulating in-depth analysis of women's orientation to and participation in trade unions. Through a skilful combination of traditional industrial relations research and feminist research, the author makes a significant contribution to our understanding of union democracy and participation.' Dr Ardha Danieli, University of Warwick, UK ’This excellent text provides an up-to-date and exhaustive account of women’s careers within trade unions. A thorough review of literature, both contemporary and historical, on women in unions, is combined with in-depth case-study materials which show how union education policies help women build careers. This book will be invaluable for students both of industrial relations and of equality and diversity.’ Professor Harriet Bradley, University of Bristol, UK

• Contents: Preface; Theoretical background; Women and trade unions: an overview; Women's trade unionism in historical context; Educating women trade unionists; Starting a trade union career; The shaping of women's trade union careers; The making of women's trade union careers; Making sense of women's trade union careers; Appendix: research methods; Bibliography; Index.