Women, Power and Autonomy : Rights, Respect and Representation in Law and Society

This book explores women’s rights from an international perspective. The authors discuss abortion, surrogacy, prostitution, marriage and family law, touching on themes including children, property, forced and arranged marriage and under-age marriage, separation, divorce and widowhood. They also analyse commerce and financial rights, as well as employment rights and women in the corporate sector. Throughout the book these topics raise questions of respect, from the perspective of violence against women, provision of resources and services, and women in the criminal justice system under bail and imprisonment. This book also addresses the representation of women in media and politics, including in film and literature. Overall, the authors explore the intersection of rights, respect and representation, and their roles in women’s status in society as well as in law.

Jocelynne A. Scutt is Adjunct Professor at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, Australia, and formerly Senior Teaching Fellow and Visiting Professor at the University of Buckingham, UK. A practicing Barrister and human rights lawyer at Fraser Chambers, Leadenhall Street, London, UK, and the Victorian Bar, William Street, Melbourne, Australia, she is also an historian and filmmaker.