Confronting Neo-conservatism: Anglo-American Women's Movements under Thatcher, Reagan and Mulroney

Abstract

Comparative research on women and public policy has thus far neglected the impact of neo-conservative governments on feminist inter ests. Using data on legislative and judicial decisions in the United Kingdom, United States and Canada, this article addresses policy-making in five key issue areas before and after the elections of Margaret Thatcher, Ronald Reagan and Brian Mulroney. Comparative results indicate disad vantageous conditions for US feminism in the Reagan years, some progress for British women's interests during the Thatcher era, and relatively advantageous outcomes for Canadian feminists in the Mulroney period. The opportunity structures approach is evaluated as an explanation for these findings.