Women are at the heart of civil society organisations, yet CSO research tends to ignore considerations of gender and the history of activist feminist organisations.

This collection examines the nexus between the emancipation of women, and their role(s) in these organisations. It covers emerging issues such as the role of social media in organising, the significance of religion in many cultural contexts, activism in Eastern Europe and the impact of environmental degradation on women’s lives. Asking whether involvement in CSOs offers a potential source of emancipation for women or maintains the status quo, this anthology will also have an impact on policy and practice in relation to equal opportunities.