The Making of Women Trade Unionists

Investigating the social construction of women's trade union participation in the context of male dominated trade unions, this book explores the making and unfolding of women's trade union careers. Located within their experiences of three interlocking social institutions - unions, work and family, a historical overview is offered with original analysis and historical data.

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.

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.