Author: Anne McBride

In 1993, the largest UK union, UNISON, created an innovative framework for empowering women. This is the first in-depth study of UNISON's claims to put women at the heart of the union.

Detailed interviews with activists and case studies of decision-making bodies show how different membership groups exploit equal opportunities strategies to facilitate or impede women.

These case studies expose the conundrum of understanding women as a differentiated but distinct membership group. They illustrate why women activists need to be understood in their diverse and multiple roles of being low-paid workers, black women, lesbians and members of political parties but also demonstrate that women are most empowered when treated as an oppressed social group.