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

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.

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 resident 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. Capacity of verbal communication in one of these languages is also desirable.

Format, presentation and accompanying information
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. 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.

Deadline
deadline for the forthcoming edition to be announced

Award
Competition winner(s) will be invited to present their papers at the World Congress of Sociology. Although funding cannot be promised, RC 32 will provide support to help the winners find resources to attend the meeting. It is anticipated that the winner(s) will also be invited to participate in RC 32's one day pre-conference seminar immediately before the ISA meeting.