conference theme 2010
‘It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability
to recognise, accept and celebrate those differences.’ - Audre
Lorde
Aotearoa/New Zealand in the 21st century is ‘diverse’. Ethnicity,
sexuality, indigeneity, age, health, occupation, income, religion and disability
all define the different experiences of women. How does this diversity shape
‘women’ and ‘womanhood’ in Aotearoa today? Do our
differences divide us? How might we build stronger connections among women,
while respecting and celebrating our diversity?
Connecting Women: Respecting Differences will explore this theme
of difference and consider strategies for connecting diverse women. We encourage
proposals that engage with the often difficult dialogues that are encompassed
within the conference theme of difference, diversity and inter-sectionality.
We also extend a general invitation for papers, workshops, panel discussions,
performances and artistic displays addressing other themes relevant to the
work of the association — such as gender and work, pay equity, women’s
health, media representations, the body, violence against women, Maori, Pasifika
and indigenous women’s issues, migrant and refugee women’s issues,
women and policy, women’s art, women’s resistance, and more.
In the light of the deepening impacts of climate change, we particularly welcome
proposals that reflect feminist engagement with environmental issues and activism,
and also strongly encourage proposals from community-based women’s groups
and postgraduate students.