MINO VIANELLO is Professor in the Faculty of Statistics, University of Rome 'La Sapienza'. - GWEN MOORE is Associate Professor, Department of Sociology at the State University of New York at Albany.

• INTRODUCTION A Theoretical Framework; E.Drew, G.Moore, R.Siemienska & M.Vianello Methodology; S.Sansonetti, D.Lyon, G.Moore, J.Neale & M.Palgi PART I: PATHWAYS TO POWER Gender, Class and Public Power; J.Liddle & E.Michielsens The Élite's Cultural Capital: A View on Education; M.A.G.de León, M.J.A.Sánchex & H.R.Navarro Career Trajectories: Convergence or Divergence?; E.Drew Men and Women in Political Leadership; M.Carrilho PART II: POWER, STRATEGIES, CONTEXTS AND USES Top People and Mentors; M.Palgi Gendered Time and Women's Access to Power; A.Woodward & D.Lyon Life Choices and Leaders' Informal Networks; J.Bakker Interpersonal Contacts; G.Moore & D.White Organisational Structure and Gender; B.Kavcic & M.Merkac The Exercise of Power; M.Vianello PART III: HINDRANCE OR ASSET?: COMBINING EVERYDAY LIFE AND ÉLITE CAREERS Family Characteristics; J.Neale Traditional or New Ways of Living; G.Diem-Wille & J.Ziegler Life and Career in North and South Europe; J.Kuusipalo, K.Kauppinen & I.Nuutinen Career Life Forms; J.Esseveld & G.Andersson PART IV: THE CULTURAL DIMENSIONS OF GENDER (IN) EQUALITY IN ÉLITES Hierarchies, Attitudes and Gender; L.N.Smokovita & B.Baldwin Perspectives on Gender Cultures in Élites; B.Liebig The Social Construction of Gender; L.Hojgaard & J.Esseveld Élite's Value Orientations; R.Siemienska Conclusions; G.Moore & M.Vianello Appendix: Data About Countries; S.Sansonetti Bibliography

'Going through this book, one finds that no relevant dimension has been ignored and no piece of literature which may shed light on the ongoing debate has been overlooked. One cannot but be grateful for such an achievement as well as for the fact that it is the highly positive result of a cooperative effort. Let me say how crucial it is that we have a thorough assessment of the theoretical aspects, and a comprehensive survey, concerning such a politically crucial issue as elites and leadership, assuming - at long last - gender as a relevant perspective.' - Professor Laura Balbo, Ministra Pari Opportunita, Italy 'Until now the topic of women's participation in elites has been widely ignored in elite theory and analysis. Vianello and Moore's pathbreaking volume helps fill this glaring gap. Bringing together data and highly original conclusions on this topic from no less than 27 countries, it is a must for scholars and students of elites, gender or both.' - Professor Eva Etzioni-Halevy, Bar-Ilan University 'This comparative, systematic investigation of men and women leaders in business and politics across 27 countries is a pathbreaking and badly needed contribution to our knowledge of women elites. Gendering Elites is essential reading for anyone interested in the similarities and differences between women and men as leaders. The findings about their respective backgrounds, access to elite positions, private and public advantages, and views about power, are important in their own right, and also throw new light onto the cultural and structural barriers that still limit women's access to leadership around the world.' - Professor Carole Pateman, UCLA 'This book fills excellently a crucial gap in the literature concerning women's participation in decision-making in public life.' - Janine-Mossuz-Lavau 'Throughout most of history, in most countries, and in most areas of life, positions if power have been occupied by men. A half-century ago, one would have been hard put to find women in top positions. Things have changed - more than some like and less than many hope. But we understand less about how the change happened; and how it differs from place to place. This daring book brings together scholars from many countries to address this question and to provide important - and often surprising - answers.' - Sidney Verba 'This book makes 'the way things are' for men and women in the worlds of business and politics visible.' - Contemporary Sociology