Women Moving Across Boundaries: Movements and Migrations

Abstract

In the last decades, women have moved across many boundaries: in labour participation and professional work, in political commitment and elected office, in scientific research and education, in cross-border flows, and in daring to question why theologies and churches exclude them from hierarchy and power. The discourse and narratives of women’s hopes have been greatly enriched by a myriad experiences in different arenas and by soaring demands not only to be heard but to have authority and influence in decision-making. The diversity and richness of this movement has intertwined with neoliberalism with very mixed results. While neoliberal policies have opened up economic opportunities that diverse groups of women, both rich and poor, have benefited from, such policies have failed to inspire the profound changes needed to balance men’s and women’s roles in paid and unpaid work, in gaining freedom and entrepreneurship, in providing care and sociability, and in receiving respect and recognition.