Merrindahl Andrew

Women's Movement Institutionalization: The Need for New Approaches

The social movements that first flourished in the 1960s and 1970s were initially characterized by protest activity against the state and against dominant norms, and by their only loosely organized structures. Over time, however, these social movements, including feminism, have become partially institutionalized in government and nongovernment bodies, and in policies, practices, and social norms.

Damaged but Determined: The Australian Women's Movement, 1996-2007

What happened to the womens movement in Australia under the conservative Howard government (1996–2007)? Why was there such a slump in energy and impact during this period? And what are the implications for the future? In addressing these questions, this article critically reflects on concepts of abeyance, political opportunity structures and cycles of contention. It highlights the shift to neoliberalism that occurred even before Howard came to power and the loss of the movements ‘novelty value’, trends that were intensified by broader ideological shifts under Howard. Using interviews with key activists, the article constructs a detailed historical account, arguing that there was not only a hostile environment that constrained the movement but also that the movements dynamics, activities and goals changed over time. The article concludes that the Australian womens movement is still surviving, but not thriving.

GETTING PRAGMATIC Women's Electoral Lobby on the Continuum of Radicalism

Abstract The history of the Womens Electoral Lobby (WEL) is distinguished by its extensive involvement in electoral politics and public policy. This paper traces WELs development as part of the broader womens movement, considers its engagement with government and situates it in relation to Australian and international political traditions. It describes WELs distinctive style of political engagement, through its candidate surveys for the 1972 federal election to the online party scorecards of the 2000s, and the more than 900 policy submissions along the way. Personal connections via the ‘femocrats’ and feminist members of parliament strengthened WELs policy influence and helped it realise (at least for a time) the goal of a feminist policy machinery across the whole of government at both commonwealth and state/territory levels. WEL has also been part of a broader womens movement, generating tensions as well as inspiration and support. With characteristic pragmatism, WEL members made sense of their place in the movement by working for the ‘preconditions of revolution’ from the reformist end of a ‘continuum of radicalism’. They were aiming to broaden the impact of feminism by making gender equality part of the core business of government. This is a project that was undermined by major changes in political conditions, but which WEL continues to pursue through its particular focus on policy analysis and advocacy.

The institutional harvest: women's services and women's policy agencies

Preface Sarah Maddison and Marian Sawer 1. Finding the womens movement Marian Sawer 2. Disruption, continuity and waves in the feminist movement Drude Dahlerup 3. Discursive politics: Changing the talk and raising expectations Sarah Maddison 4. Taking to the streets Catherine Strong and Kirsty McLaren 5. Hiding in plain sight: Womens advocacy organisations Marian Sawer and Merrindahl Andrew 6. The institutional harvest: Womens services and womens policy agencies Merrindahl Andrew 7. Role models and roller derby: Feminism and popular culture Catherine Strong and Sarah Maddison 8. Blogging and the womens movement: New feminist networks Frances Shaw 9. Slut walking: Where is the next generation of feminists? Sarah Maddison 10. Global feminist organising: Identifying patterns of activism Myra Marx Ferree and Christina Ewig Appendix: How, what and why Merrindahl Andrew, Kirsty McLaren, Frances Shaw and Catherine Strong