The 28th Women’s Studies Conference at SUNY New Paltz
October 6, 2007
Deadline for proposals: June 15, 2007

This year’s conference focuses on growing up female in the United States and around the world, in contemporary society and throughout history. It will explore the ways girls view themselves and how their identities are influenced by the cultural, social, economic, political and familial contexts in which they live and grow. We are interested in the challenges of growing up in societies that don?t value girls and in girls? Creative responses to the obstacles, pressures, and expectations they face.

The conference will explore a wide range of questions including (but not limited to) the following:

Identity:
How have social expectations of girls changed over time? How have social policies in the United States and around the world affected girls‘ experience? What are the effects of social class, race, ethnicity, religion and geography on girls experiences and choices? How have prevailing sexual norms for girls changed over time in the United States and around the world? What role has the media played in promoting norms about appearance and behavior? How have these ideas and images affected girls sense of themselves?

Globalization and migration:
How has globalization affected girls and their relationship with their families? What have been the tensions between girls and immigrant parents?

Violence and exploitation:
How have girls been affected by violence – both in the family and in their countries? What is being done to challenge cultural practices, customs and traditions that are harmful to girls? What efforts have been made to end the sexual exploitation of girls?

Education:
How have organizations and individuals worked to improve girls access to education, health care and information about sex and reproduction? How have girls and their teachers responded to sexual harassment in schools? What are the remaining obstacles to the creation of educational environments that support girls achievement and growth?

Girls‘ culture and activism:
How have girls resisted prevailing ideas about femininity? How has feminism affected girls experiences and expectations? How have girls responded to and redefined feminism? What issues have the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender movements raised for girls, parents and teachers? What forms has girls? activism taken?

We invite proposals exploring these and other questions for individual presentations or workshops, panels and performance pieces. We encourage complete workshop proposals but will accept individual presentations that can be grouped with others. Sessions are usually one and a half hours long. Our conference audiences include students, faculty and community members from a wide variety of backgrounds; therefore, presentations should be accessible and allow ample time for audience participation.

Proposals should include: 1) One to three page description of presentation: how it relates to the conference theme, the specific issues it will address and the activities it will include to address these issues; 2) Name and description of the relevant experience of each presenter; 3) Name, address, phone and email address of contact person. Send proposals to: Conference Program Committee: Women?s Studies Program, Southside House, 1 Hawk Drive, SUNY New Paltz, New Paltz, N.Y., 12561 or email to chandlec@newpaltz.edu.

Proposals can also be faxed to (845)257-2798.
For more information, or to discuss workshop plans, call Amy Kesselman (845) 257-2977 (email: kesselma@newpaltz.edu) or Cookie Chandler ( 845) 257-2975 (email:
chandlec@newpaltz.edu).

CfP – Quelle: Newsletter des AKHFG Arbeitskreis Historische Frauen- und Geschlechterforschung, Universität Flensburg