The transformation of women’s lives in the past century is among the most significant and far-reaching social and economic phenomena, affecting not only women, but also their partners and children. This Handbook provides the first comprehensive collection of essays that addresses these issues, using the powerful framework of economics. The essays are divided into three broad sections—marriage and fertility; the labor market; and special topics and policy issues. Separate and special attention is given to developed and developing economies, because the constraints women face and the key policy issues vary by level of development. While the primary focus is economics, where appropriate, the essays incorporate the newest interdisciplinary research about gender from biology and other disciplines. These essays will be of value to a wide range of readers, from specialists to students, and also to scholars in other disciplines seeking an overview of the most current research approaches and findings in economics.