CfP: From the Grassroots to the Statehouse: Women’s Activism and Political Power (Event, 03/2020, New York); by: 09.12.2019

22nd Annual Women’s History Conference at Sarah Lawrence College (Web)

Time: 27.-28.03.2020
Venue: Sarah Lawrence College, Bronxville, New York
Proposals by: 09.12.2019

When Liberian Nobel Peace Prize winner and anti-war activist Leymah Gbowee was asked „What one thing could be done to improve the status of women and girls around the world?“ Her answer was „More women in politics.“ Gbowee’s response suggests that politically active women will ask the right questions and support the best policies to help women and girls achieve their full potential.

In anticipation of another U.S. Presidential election in 2020, this conference asks: How much of a difference does it make to have women in positions of power and focuses on the question, what is the potential power of women’s leadership now and in the past? From leadership in activist organizations to running in local elections to ultimately attempting to become leaders of nations- have women done what Gbowee fervently believed is possible? When women get into positions of political power, how much do they confront, change, and shake up the status quo?

Or, do we find conversely that women are forced to modify more radical positions in order to serve a broader constituency? Does the phenomenon of forced compromise and de-radicalization occur only in electoral politics or can it be found in other places where women are in positions of power?

The organizers hope that participants at this conference will grapple with these questions from a range of different perspectives, including examining the extent to which participation in electoral politics has or has not benefited women.

The organizers welcome proposals that go beyond the category of „women“ to include the powerful activism of LGBTQ populations, disability rights activists, and immigration activists, to name just a few of the perspectives that we are hoping to engage with through this conference. Panels with an international focus and /or on grassroots activism are particularly encouraged.

  • Panels may include but are not limited to:
  • Organizing from the Ground up: Grassroots Political Action
  • Women’s Access to Power and Decision Making in African Countries
  • Violence and Intimidation Against Women in Politics
  • Women’s Participation at the Local Level
  • Media Narratives of Women in Politics
  • Trans Focused Political Action
  • LGBT Communities and Access to Political Power
  • Political Campaigns Global and Local
  • Race, Gender and the 19th Amendment
  • Suffrage Campaigns
  • Uses of Gender in Political Campaigns
  • Women Heads of State in Asia
  • The Complicated Legacy of Aung San Suu Kyi
  • Women’s Education and Political Participation
  • Political Empowerment: Women and Public Policy
  • Disability Representation in Politics
  • Gender and the Politics of the Middle East
  • Women’s Contributions to Caribbean and Latin American Politics

Proposals should be no more than two pages per presenter. For panels, please include a short description of each presentation and a one-page C.V. for each presenter. Proposals for panels are especially welcome but the organizers will also consider individual papers. Creative work is also not only welcomed, but encouraged. Email submissions are preferred.

This conference is free and open to the public

Deadline: December 9, 2019

Send proposals to:

Tara James, Associate Director

Graduate Program in Women’s History

Sarah Lawrence College

1 Mead Way, Bronxville, New York 10708

914-395-2405

tjames@sarahlawrence.edu

Source: H-Women/H-Net