by Pam Giddy

Firstthoughts is a platform for debate and discussion, exploring new directions and ideas for the local government sector and its community of interest. This is part of the self-improvement agenda. Contributions to firstthoughts are entirely personal. The LGA is not necessarily in agreement with, or responsible for, the views of contributors.
Pam Giddy, director, Charter88
Pam Giddy was born on 5 April 1967 in Coventry. Her parents came from the Punjab, north India, before moving to the UK in the 1960's. After graduating in 1989 with a law degree from the London School of Economics, she joined Charter88, the newly formed constitutional reform movement. There, she launched the Violations of Rights series of publications, which set out to show how the lack of specific rights had an impact on us all. She left to join Cosmopolitan magazine in 1993 as Careers and News editor. For four and a half years, she then worked as a producer on BBC Newsnight, looking after its political coverage and then launching a series of films exploring issues of social exclusion in Salford, Manchester. In March 1999, she rejoined Charter88 as its first female director.
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Published by LGA Publications for the Local Government Association

by Anne Henderson

This is the story of an extraordinary woman mother of twelve, Prime Minister's wife, first woman member of the House of Representatives and the first woman in Federal Cabinet, radio broadcaster, newspaper columnist, author of three books, Enid Lyons was for many years the best known woman in Australia.
Enid Lyons regarded herself as a feminist, but was also conservative. She had views on mothering which were ahead of her time.
The story of Joe and Enid Lyons is full of dramatic extremes without being risquè.
Anne Henderson has also uncovered new information which indicates a family secret.
There will be controversy over this and much interest.

Published by Pluto Press

by Emily Maguire

After many waves of feminism, where are we? This book ignites discussion on issues relevant to young women. Emily Maguire proposes that those women born after the successes of the women's liberation movement in the 1970s are realising that political, economic, sexual, professional, social and domestic equality is far from achieved and that post feminism is a media myth.
"This personal and illuminating book is a bridge to enable young women and men to understand the issues behind them and those ahead of them."

Published by Text Publishing