Feminism, Republicanism, Egalitarianism, Environmentalism
Bill of Rights and Gendered Sustainable Initiatives
Interdisciplinary Research in Gender Series

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.

Contents Part 1. Feminism, Republicanism, Egalitarianism and Environmentalism. Introduction. Envisioning an Australian Republican-Constitutional change and Bill of Rights Act. What a Bill of Rights should achieve? ‘Red Vienna’: a viable Republican model? Brexit and ‘WASPishness as the antithesis’. Part 11. The ‘boys club’ and emphasized femininity resistance. The gendered nature of the elite: ‘The boys club’ and ruling class masculinity within renewables organisational governance. Gender tokenism on climate panels. Part 111. Emphasized femininity as an agentic performance An agentic performative multi-skills-set within environmentalism. Physical competence and civil disobedience. Age as a barrier/enabler. Older and Younger women’s agentic resistance. Activism as egalitarian and anti-hierarchical. Indigenous Women’s Leadership: Envisioning an Indigenous Treaty. Part 1V. Conclusion to Book. Conclusion. Emphasized femininity/hegemonic masculinity and constructivism/essentialism. Conclusion. Republican ‘Red Vienna’: an inspirational feminist model of egalitarian governance.

Dr. Yulia Maleta’s research addresses gender identity, sustainable technological development and qualitative methodologies within the frame of sociopolitical NSMs. She has a PhD in social sciences, and has contributed to reputable interdisciplinary peer-reviewed publications, including Journal of Sociology, Third Sector Review and Journal of International Women’s Studies.