2013 Stockholm Conference on Global Gender Equality Politics
Venue: Stockholm University
Time: 10-11th September 2013
Deadline: 01.03.2013
The theme of the conference addresses ongoing gender equality politics as well as legislation against gender discrimination as part of transnational transformations. The concepts of human rights, gender equality and anti-discrimination legislation have gradually become more and more accepted on a comprehensive global level and have been given a prominent position in the official rhetoric. In most Western states, gender equality politics and “state feminism” have become a self-evident part of political development, including legislation, gender equality reforms, measures and institutions such as gender equality ombudsmen. However, the criticisms of the concepts of human rights, gender equality and anti-discrimination as colonial, racial and Western concepts expose the complexities and ambivalences that are embedded in gender equality politics and give rise to some serious questions: How are we going to interpret the success of gender equality politics? Do the politics in this field maintain or challenge existing power relations and structures? Or, is the problem the concept of gender equality itself? What political ideologies and interests have interfered with the development of this concept? What lines of conflict are evident? Are gender equality politics and anti-discrimination legislation to be seen as the outcome of a socialist/social democratic ideology or as a result of a neo-liberal influenced political agenda?
This conference is meant to be a moment for critical investigation as well as for understanding historical contexts of gender politics in different countries. Our intention is to examine the origins, genealogy, evolution, historical contexts and what might be seen as a backlash for the feminism and gender equality politics of today. We also wish to examine the concept of gender equality politics and the political institution of gender equality ombudsmen. Above all we want to highlight gender equality politics, strategies and anti-discrimination legislation as a component in, or an idea of, transnational movements, both historically and today. We also welcome contributions that examine gender equality politics from an intersectional point of view.
We invite all modes of work, papers and critical thinking on gender equality politics and gender discrimination in a globalized world. We especially invite papers on non-Western and post-authoritarian gender equality politics and legislation.
Our main questions are: How is gender equality interpreted, and what are the political consequences of these interpretation processes? How do ideas of gender equality politics and anti-discrimination legislation spread globally? How is the concept of gender equality politics approached in politics and legislation? How are the politics of gender equality situated in national politics of human rights? How does gender discrimination intersect with other types of discrimination?
Abstracts, max. one page, due by March 1st 2013 to Yulia.Gradskova@historia.su.se. We cannot take more than 60 papers.
Participants are expected to cover their own costs for travel and hotel, but a conference dinner, two lunches, and coffee will be provided free of charge.
Deadlines:
– Website opens by March 1st
– Abstracts by March 1st
– Answers by March 20th 2013
– Papers by June 1st 2013 are to be sent to the conference website
– Registration for paper participant by June 1st 2013
– Registration for listeners by August 15th 2013
Organizing committee:
Eva Blomberg, Professor in History, Stockholm University
Yulia Gradskova, PhD in History, Stockholm University
Alina Zvinkliene, PhD in Sociology, Södertörn University/Vilnius University
Ylva Waldemarson, Assistant Professor in History, Södertörn University
Referee committee:
Christina Florin, Professor in History, Stockholm University
Helen Carlbäck, Ass. Professor in History, Södertörn University
Silke Neunsinger, Ass. Professor in History, Labour Movement Archives and Library