Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Faculty

Hannah E. Britton

The contact information for Prof. Hannah Britton is as follows: Hannah Britton 316 Blake Hall 864-9016 britton@ku.edu

Assistant Professor of Women’s Studies and Political Science (Ph.D., Syracuse University, 1999).

Research Area - Gender and African Politics

Teaching Area - Gender and Politics, Women and Politics in Africa, Gender and Globalization, Gender and Development

My research focuses broadly on the role of gender in African politics. I have completed a study of women in the South African parliament, which strives to understand how women in parliament have operated individually and collectively to transform the laws and institutions to improve the quality of life for women in their country. I am currently co-editing two books: one on gender and civil society in post-apartheid South Africa and one on women in Africa parliaments. I am interested in the strategies used by women to gain positions in national office, to rewrite constitutions, and to affect legislative change. A smaller project I am completing focuses on organizational strategies used by groups in South Africa fighting gender-based violence.

My teaching is found at the intersection of women’s studies, political science, and African studies. I have regularly taught courses on African Politics, Women in Global Politics, Comparative Politics, Politics of the Developing Regions, and International Political Economy. Now that I have joined the KU faculty, I hope to be able to teach a number of courses including Contemporary Feminist Political Theory, Gender and Globalization, Gender and African Politics, and the Politics of South Africa.

Recent Book Published

Description: Working together across religious, ethnic, and class divisions, African women are helping to formulate legislation and foster democracies more inclusive of women's interests. Women in African Parliaments explores this phenomenon, examining the impact and experiences of African women as they seek increased representation in national legislatures.

Also by Prof. Britton: Women in the South African Parliament

Congratulations to Hannah Britton (yay !!), one of this year's winners of a Kemper Teaching Award (25 August 2008, Provost Lariviere at left).