Essay competition for new scholars from the economic South on "Women's Social Movements: Struggles for Change Throughout the World"

Established: 2001
Frequency: every four years

Essay competition submission deadline: September 15, 2009

Research Committee Women in Society (RC32) of the International Sociological Association is organizing a world-wide essay competition to stimulate the formation of a theoretical framework for comparative studies on the changing position of women throughout the world, with emphasis on the analysis of social movements. These papers should provide an analysis of the effects of women's movements in bringing about change in the cultural, religious, ethnic and national political spheres of women's lives, with particular concern for the issues of violence, sexuality and reproductive rights as matters of social justice.

Papers should identify cultural codes, issues, the emergence of movements, the building of solidarity ties and/or other relevant dimensions for the analysis of social movements. Ways of dealing with the State and with dominant elites, and the emergence of change may be considered. Studies of movements concerned with different forms of discrimination or with different forms of feminism in the South, and historical studies of women's movements and processes of institutionalization can also be submitted, as long as they contribute to the sociological analysis of social movements. Papers should include both theoretical formulation and empirical research.

The 2010 competition will take place in celebration of the life and legacy of Dr. Helen Ralston (1929-2006), professor Emerita of Sociology at Saint Mary’s University and a long-time RC 32 and ISA member. Helen Ralston was a cosmopolitan Canadian of Australian origin, a teacher, academic, nun, feminist and activist. As a researcher and a feminist she was involved in ethnic, migration and transnational issues always working to improve the lives of women and the underprivileged of the world.

An International Jury will be established by RC32. Papers will be evaluated on the basis of their use of sociology to work out questions about women's social movements; their conceptual innovation; their way of developing the arguments; the possibility of their use in a comparative international framework. Papers that are not on the topic as outlined above will not be considered.

Eligibility
New scholars who are sociologists and are normally residents of the Economic South or are members of indigenous groups, including students temporarily in the North during their graduate studies, are eligible. Only one submission, whether as author or co-author, is allowed.

Language of submission
Written papers in English, French or Spanish, the official languages of ISA are invited. Capacity of verbal communication in one of these languages is also desirable.

Format, presentation and accompanying information for 2010 essay competition
Candidates must submit an original paper that has not been previously published anywhere. Papers should be typed and double spaced. Maximum length is 6000 words (i.e. no more than 20 pages of text) and a maximum of 10 pages of references and notes. Notes and the bibliography should appear at the end of the text. The paper's title but not your name should be on the top of the paper. Since papers will be judged anonymously, submit your name, address, e-mail, phone and fax numbers (if relevant) and an abstract of the paper (250 words maximum) on a separate page. Submit a brief curriculum vitae as well. Papers which do not conform to these rules run the risk of being rejected.

An electronic version (.doc or .pdf) of the paper should be e-mailed as an attachment to the Committee Chair of the 2010 essay competition for new scholars from the economic South: Evangelia Tastsoglou,  Saint Mary's University, Canada (evie.tastsoglou@smu.ca ). Please indicate “RC32 Essay competition” in the subject of your message).  An electronic acknowledgement will be given upon receipt of the electronic submissions.

Deadline
Deadline for the 2010 competition is September 15, 2009.  The winner(s) will be notified by January 15, 2010.

Award
Competition winner(s) will be invited to present their papers at the XVII World Congress of Sociology which will take place in Götenborg, Sweden, July 2010 World Congress of Sociology. The winner(s) will receive an award certificate at the RC32 reception. Although funding cannot be promised, RC 32 will provide support to help the winner(s) find resources to attend the meeting.