Global Gender Equality Politics

Since the 1960’s

2013 Stockholm Conference on Global Gender Equality Politics

Stockholm University: 10-11th September 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