Review of the first excellent introduction to a wide range of topics which should whet the appetite for further reading.' - Annette Holman, Community Care;'...brings together an extremely readable and intellectually challenging set of readings and enhances the reader's understanding of them significantly by a set of excellent introductions." - Peggy Foster, Journal of Social Policy;It is ten years since the first edition of this well-established text was published. The new edition contains an almost entirely new selection of readings, to bring the publication up to date, and to develop themes that are likely to remain topical into the late 1990s and beyond. Where possible and relevant, much of the material has a comparative (particularly European) perspective. The book is an essential text for students and teachers of social policy and women's studies.