ABSTRACT

This book addresses hegemonic ruling class masculinity and emphasized femininity within renewables organisational governance, and critiques Anglo-Celtic male privilege, as a barrier to women’s leadership participation.

Primarily using the Australian socio-political context, the author considers the patriarchal control of organisations and renewables governance, and argues that women-led emphasized femininity-resistance strategies can challenge the hegemonic status of ruling elites to create a leadership that is less power oriented, more collaborative and open to change. Utilising detailed interviews with Australian women environmentalists, together with feminist, sociological and social movement theory, whilst considering the historic context of Red Vienna and contemporary political challenges (Brexit, Monarchism etc.), it puts forward an innovative policy framework for an Australian Bill of Rights Act and republican constitutional change.

Written for academics, activists and policymakers alike, this book offers a unique insight into women’s inequity within patriarchal institutionalist governance. It will be  engaging and inspiring reading for feminist and environmentalist activists and practitioners, in addition to professional associations focussing on gender, justice and environmental change. Academics and postgraduates in Gender Studies, Ecofeminism, Sociology and Organisational Studies will also find the book of key interest in its interdisciplinary discussions of Sustainable Scientific-Technological Development Initiatives (SSTDI) and feminism in an Australian political context.

part I|2 pages

Feminism: A Precursor for Republicanism

chapter 1|29 pages

Introduction

Envisioning an Australian Republican-Constitutional change and Bill of Rights Act

chapter 2|8 pages

What a Bill of Rights should achieve

chapter 3|5 pages

Red Vienna

A viable Republican model?

part II|2 pages

The ‘boys club’ and emphasized femininity resistance

chapter 5|37 pages

The gendered nature of the elite

‘The boys club’ and ruling class masculinity within renewables organisational governance

chapter 6|17 pages

Gender tokenism on climate panels

part III|2 pages

Emphasized femininity as an agentic performance

chapter 8|15 pages

Physical competence and civil disobedience

chapter 9|14 pages

Age as a barrier/Enabler

Older and Younger Women’s Agentic Resistance

chapter 11|6 pages

Indigenous women’s leadership

Envisioning an indigenous treaty

part IV|2 pages

Conclusion

chapter 12|14 pages

Conclusion

Emphasized Femininity/Hegemonic masculinity and constructivism/essentialism

chapter 13|14 pages

Conclusion

Republican Red Vienna: an inspirational feminist model of egalitarian governance