U.S. Women's Interest Groups: Institutional Profiles

No other reference analyzes the origins, development, programs, publications, and political action of 180 major American organizations concerned with women's issues in such depth. Over 100 experts give an overview of how national women's groups of all kinds and representing varied and broad segments of society have had an impact on a wide array of public policy issues in Washington in recent years. An introduction provides a content analysis, general background, and historical sketch for the profiles, which are arranged alphabetically. An appendix describes six government agencies of primary importance in handling women's issues, as agenda setters and bridges. A second appendix consists of the questionnaire which was sent to each organization covered in the volume.

The alphabetically arranged profiles cover organizations with all types of goals and concerns, different racial and ethnic identification, church and temple affiliations: civil, elderly, professional, and occupational associations; social and sorority groups; labor and business organizations; not-for-profit and for-profit groups; research centers; and both partisan and nonpartisan organizations. Students, teachers, professionals in governmental and nongovernmental agencies, researchers, and citizen activists will find that this handy sourcebook is a treasury of authoritative information about how private citizens work to affect national policy and legislation in essential ways.

No other reference analyzes the origins, development, programs, publications, and political action of 180 major American organizations concerned with women's issues in such depth. Over 100 experts give an overview of how national women's groups of all kinds and representing varied and broad segments of society have had an impact on a wide array of public policy issues in Washington in recent years. An introduction provides a content analysis, general background, and historical sketch for the profiles, which are arranged alphabetically. An appendix describes six government agencies of primary importance in handling women's issues, as agenda setters and bridges. A second appendix consists of the questionnaire which was sent to each organization covered in the volume.

The alphabetically arranged profiles cover organizations with all types of goals and concerns, different racial and ethnic identification, church and temple affiliations: civil, elderly, professional, and occupational associations; social and sorority groups; labor and business organizations; not-for-profit and for-profit groups; research centers; and both partisan and nonpartisan organizations. Students, teachers, professionals in governmental and nongovernmental agencies, researchers, and citizen activists will find that this handy sourcebook is a treasury of authoritative information about how private citizens work to affect national policy and legislation in essential ways.

Booknews

Focusing primarily on national groups, this volume serves as a reference work on organizations and a sourcebook on group development. A substantial introduction is followed by a selected listing of some 200 groups based on responses to a four- part questionnaire. Contributors combine the organizations' responses with documentary evidence, reviews of existing literature, and interviews within and outside the organizations. Coverage includes the group's origin and development; organization and funding; policy concerns and tactics; electoral activities; and further information. Appendices provide a list of governmental women's issues groups and a copy of the questionnaire sent to the groups. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

SARAH SLAVIN is Professor of Political Science and Women's Studies Unit Coordinator, State University of New York College at Buffalo.