Perspectives of Women's Movements: International or Not at All

Analyzes the development of the new women's movement in the Federal Republic of Germany from the perspective of international cooperation, which is seen as an often-neglected but decisive mobilizing factor in the creation & distribution of feminist ideals, goals, strategies, & theories. Using the central movement theme of violence against women as an example, it is shown that effects of new women's movements in national contexts cannot be understood without considering their embeddedness in international networks. This is seen in the initiation of this theme by the International Tribunal on Crimes against Women in Brussels, Belgium, in 1976, & subsequent preoccupation of the German movement with it, & initiation of varied strategies of self-help & feminist analyses of violence by international networks. The interplay among women's movements & between them & supranational organizations, as seen in the implementation of European Union equal opportunity guidelines politics, is analyzed. It is concluded that, in view of the thematic interconnectedness of international women's politics, women's movements do not qualify as new social movements. 32 References. Adapted from the source document.