At the dawn of the 21st century's second decade, the issues women face are just as daunting and complex as ever before, from suffrage and equal representations in government, to educational rights, reproductive rights, and religious leadership roles. Even with recent gains by women in the United States and abroad, women still frequently face discrimination and unequal access to the same rights as men. As such, the fight for complete equality continues.

Women's Rights, Second Edition provides a history of women's rights, as well as the movements and people that sought to strengthen them. Case studies of the United States, China, and Afghanistan are presented, and new case studies on the state of women's rights in France (including a discussion of the ban of burqas) and the Democratic Republic of the Congo have been added to this edition. Updated material on the status of women's rights in the United States includes discussions of such women leaders as Hillary Clinton, Sonia Sotomayor, and Elena Kagan. Coverage of recent legislation such as the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act has also been added to this invaluable guide.