Gender and Social Transformation: Global, Transnational and Local Realities and Perspectives
Beijing, China
July 17-19, 2009
Submissions: February 15, 2009
The goal of the conference is to provide an international forum in which to examine how women and gender relations are shaped by societal transformation economically, politically, socially and culturally in the global, transnational and local contexts and processes.
The conference explores how dynamics process of globalization and transnationalism has impacted on women's lives, as it has challenged even altered gender relations on the ground. Using a kaleiscopic gender lens, the meeting will examine how women and men in different locations around the world experience societal transformation and how they respond to and challenge transnational and global processes of changes. Intersectionality of race, ethnicity, class, gender, nationality and other dimensions will be emphasized in the conference program.
We will address the cutting-edge issues, pressing social problems and emergent phenomena that are critical to interrogate the existing theoretical paradigms to study globalization, transnationalism and the local from critical gender perspectives.
In addition, we promote the development of theory, method, and practice by emphasizing how theory and research on women and gender can inform public debates, policy, and praxis, contribute to empirically grounded research, advance feminist scholarship, inspire collective action by empowering women as well as men, locally, transnationally and globally.
To do so, the conference offers a medium through which scholars, researchers, practitioners, policy-makers, civil society actors and grassroots activists can engage in meaningful dialogue for positive social change in various contexts. We welcome, particularly, innovative theoretical work as well as empirical research that have not published before.
Major Topics of Interest
- Theorizing globalization and transnationalism and feminist critiques
- Work, economic transformation and global economy
- Gender Mainstreaming, development and policy
- Migration, citizenship, and politics of difference/recognition
- Political participation, civil society/engagement and gender justice
- Identity, media and cultural changes
- Education, health, environment and family transition
- Women's agency, activism, and social movements
Conference Format
Key speakers will include Judith Lorber, Myra Marx Ferree, Michael Kimmel, Peggy Levitt, Rhacel Parrenas, Christine E. Bose and other speakers from China and other countries (i.e., Suuad Zayed Al-Oraimi, UAE; Chrunrurtai Kanchanachitra, Thailand; Lakshim Lingam, India). Two plenary sessions will feature gender issues in globalization and transnationalism and frontiers of feminist scholarship and methodology. Other papers sessions, panel discussion and one workshop on comparative and collaborative research will be organized.
Official Languages
Chinese and English
Funding Support
The conference is primarily funded by the China Women's Research Society and partial support from the American University.
Submission Deadline
If you are interested in this conference, submit your proposed paper abstract (250-500 words) by February 15, 2009. English paper abstract will be submitted to Esther N. Chow (echow@american.edu) and Chinese paper abstract to Wu Jing (wujing@wsic.ac.cn). Notification of paper acceptance will be around mid-March, 2009.
Registration Fees
Registration fees are paid in accordance with the membership scale specified by the International Sociological Association. US$100 for Category A countries, US$60 for Category B countries and US$35 for Category C countries (www.isa-sociology.org/memb-i/index.htm).
There will be ten hotel accommodation awards given to women of color scholars /researchers from the Global South, if their papers will be accepted. A paper with co-authorship is entitled to consideration of one award only. The program committee will decide on these awards should there be more than ten applicants for the award. There is absolutely no travel fund available.
Expected Outcomes
The conference outcomes will be conference Proceedings and two books based on selected conference papersCa Chinese one to be published in China and an English one to be published in the USA.
Key Conference Organizers
• Dr. Esther Ngan-ling Chow Professor, American University, USA.
• Dr. Tan Lin, Director, China Women's Studies Institute, All-China Women's Federation in P.R. China.
