The Nordic countries have long been seen as pioneers in promoting gender equality. This book brings together scholars from the global South and post-socialist economies to explore, from a comparative perspective, the vision, values, policies, mechanisms and political processes that help to explain Nordic achievements on gender equality. List of Figures ix List of Tables xi Foreword xiii Acknowledgments xv 1 Introduction: Reversing the Gaze 1 NAILA KABEER, EDDA MAGNUS, AND AGNETA STARK 2 The Transition to Mass Literacy: Comparative Insights from Sweden and Pakistan 19 HARIS GAZDAR 3 Gender and the Family in Public Policy: A Comparative View of Argentina and Sweden 40 ELIZABETH JELIN 4 Maternalist Politics in Norway and the Islamic Republic of Iran 64 SHAHRA RAZAVI 5 Challenging the Male Norm of Employment: Evidence from Sweden, Norway, and Hungary 87 BEATA NAGY 6 Sexual Politics and Social Policy: Swedish Policy Reviewed 111 RAMYA SUBRAHMANIAN 7 "Women Are Like Boats": Discourse, Policy, and Collective Action in Sweden and India 136 SEEMA ARORA-JONSSON 8 Quotas and Interest Representation: South Africa and Sweden in Comparative Perspective 159 SHIREEN HASSIM 9 What's in That Little Book? Gender Statistics and the Nordic Road Map Toward Evidence-Based Policies in Africa 183 BOLA AKANJI 10 Institutionalising Equality: Putting Gender Issues at the Centre in Mexico and Sweden 206 FRANCISCO COS-MONTIEL 11 Don't Disturb the Men: A Viable Gender-Equality Strategy? 229 AGNETA STARK 12 Passion, Pragmatism, and the Politics of Advocacy: The Nordic Experience Through a "Gender and Development" Lens 244 NAILA KABEER Contributors 279 Index 285