This revealing book remains the most complete description to-date of women's conditions & contributions worldwide. Although women's status has improved over the last 20 years, the majority of women still lag far behind men in power, wealth & opportunity. Using innovative techniques in a form non-specialists can readily understand, this book is an academically sound blend of fact & interpretation. Covering more issues than the very popular first edition, it will prove to be a valuable resource especially in undergraduate courses in women's studies, sociology of women, social statistics & economic development.