Hannah E. Britton is an Associate Professor of Women's Studies and Political Science. Her research focuses broadly on the role of gender in African politics. Her book, Women in the South African Parliament: From Resistance to Governance (University of Illinois Press 2005) evaluates how South African women have worked individually and collectively to transform the laws and institutions to improve the quality of life for women in their country. She is currently co-editing two books: one on gender and civil society in post-apartheid South Africa and one on women in African parliaments. She is interested in the strategies used by women to gain positions in national office, to rewrite constitutions, and to affect legislative change. A newer research project focuses on organizational strategies used by groups in South Africa fighting gender-based violence. This work examines the often neglected relationship between governement and civil society organizations.