Call for Papers
First Announcement

The 2nd Congress of The Asian Association of Women’s Studies (cAAWS 2010)
Theme: Debating Gender Justice in Asia

Organised by the Association of Asian Women Studies (AAWS), Women’s Development Research Centre (KANITA), Universiti Sains Malaysia and the South East Asian Association for Gender Studies, Malaysian Branch (SAMA)

Dates: 9-11 December 2010
Venue: Penang, Malaysia
Website: www.usm.my/kanita/aaws2010.asp

Thirty five years have lapsed since the first United Nations World Conference on Women in 1975 acknowledged women’s rights and gender equality as critical components in addressing social equality and justice within the international community and by national governments. Since then, women’s movements, both globally and locally have lobbied governments and stakeholders in society to take active steps to overcome all forms of discrimination against women. With slow progress and many challenges in the initial stages, the United Nations in the early 1990s introduced the strategy of ‘gender mainstreaming’ so that governments and organisations could implement more effective and transformational programmes to counter the diluted versions of projects which merely ‘integrate women’ in the development process.

Despite these notable efforts gender inequalities continue to persist and could even worsen during this period of unstable political and economic environment. Gender mainstreaming has been criticised as being ineffective in providing redress in the face of gender injustices. The 2010 Asia-Pacific Human Report (UNDP, 2010) which fore-grounded gender equality as its main theme noted that “in every country across Asia and the Pacific, pervasive gender inequality remains a barrier to progress, justice and social stability”. It underscored the point that despite growth in the region, gender inequality has cut even deeper for poorer and marginalised groups.

We currently live in a period of crisis, uncertainty and possibly, epochal changes. Social and gender justice has been stalled as the period of neo-liberal globalisation saw a shift from the politics of redistribution to that of recognition, with a focus on identity and difference rather than social solidarity based on justice and respect (Fraser, 2003). Can and should the two struggles be reconciled? What would be the implications on power relations of various social forces in society – from those based on class to those groups organised under the banner of ethnicity, culture, gender and sexuality to name but a few? How can one demand justice from the state, one which is mediated by different elements, and within different political contexts – from democratic to authoritarian regimes?

This forthcoming congress calls for papers to debate these issues in the context of re-claiming and re-invigorating gender justice in Asia. Papers can fit into the following sub-themes:

Feminism (s) in Asia and gender justice
Gender, culture and religion
Citizenship, leadership and governance
Globalisation and alternative development
References:

United Nations Development Programme (2010) Power, Voice and Rights: A Turning Point for Gender Equality in Asia and the Pacific, New Delhi: Macmillan Publishers India Ltd.

Fraser, Nancy (2003) “Social justice in globalization”, talk at the conference organised by the Centre for Social Studies, 22-23 February, Portugal.

Deadlines:

As mentioned above the congress is to take place from December 9 – 11 2010. Please send in a 300 word abstract by 30th September 2010. We will inform you if your abstract has been accepted by 18th October 2010. Finalised papers are due on 18th November 2010.

Please submit your abstract in the following format:

· Paper title

· Name of author(s) with full affiliation

· Author(s) address, 100 word biodata (each presenter) & contact details(including email of presenter/s)

· Sub-theme preferred for presentation

· Abstract text (max 300 words)

· Word format

· Font: Times New Roman 12.

Please submit abstracts to us via email at aaws2010@gmail.com or by normal post to the following address:

The Chairperson of the Scientific Committee
The 2nd Congress of AAWS 2010
Women’s Development Research Centre (KANITA)
Universiti Sains Malaysia
11800 USM
Penang, Malaysia

Registration fee and accommodation:

There will be a registration fee of RM200.00 for local participants and USD80.00 for foreign participants which will cover all meals and materials during the congress. Participants are responsible for their own accommodation and flight arrangements. Please book your accommodation directly with the hotel.

Contact details:

Please send your questions and other information regarding this conference to the following:

Contact Persons:

The Chairperson of the Scientific Committee
Prof. Cecilia Ng Choon Sim (Email: cncs77@gmail.com)

The Chairperson of the Secretariat Committee
Prof. Datin Rashidah Shuib (Email: rashidahshuib@usm.my)

The Deputy Chairs of the Secretariat Committee
Dr. Noraida Endut (Email: idaman@usm.my)
And
Assoc. Prof. Intan Osman (Email: intan@usm.my)


Address and Contact Number:

Women’s Development Research Centre (KANITA)
Universiti Sains Malaysia
11800 USM
Penang, Malaysia
Website: www.usm.my/kanita
Email: kanita@usm.my
Tel: +604 6533436 or +604 6533433
Fax: +604 6566379