Update from the Director Gillian Creese, Director Past Events (Including Presentations What’S Inside

Newsletter Centre for Women’s and Gender Studies, UBC

Spring/Summer 2009 Centre for Women’s and Gender Studies The University of British Columbia, Canada Update from the Director Gillian Creese, Director past events (including presentations What’s Inside... from the “Engendering Social Justice” It’s already spring and another busy Research Forum), and up-to-date no- Graduate Advisor Report 3 term at CWAGS is winding down. One tices for our weekly speaker’s series. Visiting Scholar Report 4 of the most important accomplishments As most of you know we have also News from RAGA Centre 6 this term has been to get our new web- been organizing our list of Faculty Community Visitor Report 8 site up and running. Thanks to Brian Associates (which now number over Grad Student Association 9 Charles for designing the new web site, 90) into a series of research clusters. WAGS Program Update 11 and to graduate students Emilia Niel- Look for the list of Faculty Associates Beyond Binaries symposium 13 son and Jenny Fawcett for their valu- in each research cluster to appear on Spring Lecture Series 14 able assistance. The website address the website soon. Visiting Scholars Program 15 remains unchanged (http://www.wmst. As we often do in the spring term, ubc.ca/), but the site is much easier to our major activities are connected negotiate, now includes video clips of to International Women’s Day. Nikki

The Newsletter of the Centre for Women’s and Gender Studies

The University of British Columbia 1896 East Mall Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1 Canada

(604) 822-9171 tel (604) 822-9169 fax [email protected] www.wmst.ubc.ca

Becki Ross (l), incoming Women’s and Gender Studies Undergraduate Program Chair, with current Chair Wendy Frisby and Director Gillian Creese at the 2009 CWAGS/WAGS Annual Joint Retreat. 2 Centre for Women’s and Gender Studies

Strong-Boag and I produced our third side the Lines: A Conference for Inter- a previous visit to CWAGS. We also report on the effects of recent govern- disciplinary Feminist Research”, to be hosted another Community Visitor this ment policies on gender inequality held on April 29th at Theas Lounge in term. Niki Silva, from the Philippine in British Columbia. Still Waiting for the Graduate Student Centre. Women Centre, is working on a proj- Justice Update 2009: Provincial Poli- In February Wendy Frisby and I ect on violence against women in the cies and Gender Inequality in BC was convened a one-day symposium on Live-In-Caregiver Program. We thank launched at the BC Federation of La- “Feminist Approaches to Community- the VanCity Community Foundation for bour’s annual International Women’s Based Research”. The invitation-only their generous support of the Commu- Day Breakfast on March 6th. Unlike event was designed to provide authors nity Visitors program. We are pleased last year, this year’s report has so far of an upcoming edited collection the to confirm that both these programs received little press (other than one ar- opportunity to present early drafts and will continue next year. Please see de- ticle appearing in the Georgia Straight), develop synergies between chapters. tails about how to apply as a Visiting but we are hopeful that the issue of The book, a collection of 12 original Scholar or a Community Visitor on the gender inequality will inform debates chapters on feminist community-based CWAGS website. Individual reports in the upcoming provincial election in research, is written by CWAGS Fac- from this term’s Visiting Scholars and May. The report can be downloaded ulty Associates and Research Associ- Community Visitors appear elsewhere from the CWAGS website or the BC in this newsletter. Federation of Labour website at http:// As we all know the recent financial www.bcfed.com/files/1670-09br-Still_ crisis has had a major impact on UBC’s Waiting_for_Justice-2009.pdf. budget, not least in the College for In- ...Among other activities, We also celebrated International terdisciplinary Studies (CFIS) which Women’s Day by co-sponsoring a Justice Abella will give a has more endowed chairs that are cur- public talk by author Evelyn White. Her public talk on the evening of rently ‘underwater’ than any other fac- presentation, “The Universe Provides: November 6..... ulty. Since CWAGS has a very small Alice Walker, Abundance and the Art endowment, so small we have not of Biography” was held on March 6 be- actually used any of the interest ac- fore a small but appreciative audience. cumulated over the past few years, I We also co-sponsored a talk by Elana am pleased to say we have escaped Brief, “Creating space for women sci- ates, in collaboration with a wide range the new CFIS belt tightening associ- entists to succeed” (February 12), an of community groups, for submission ated with the current budgetary crisis. exhibit by Mary Taylor, “Homophobia to UBC Press. Indeed, in the fall we were given the Kills” (February 9 – 12), a talk by Laura Plans are already well underway to green light to pursue a possible new Mulvey, “Between film theory and film bring in our fall keynote speaker. This joint appointment with another unit in history: The young modern women year we are bringing in Justice Rosa- CFIS. The hiring process is ongoing and the ‘flapper film’” (February 23), lie Abella on November 5 – 6. Among and the outcome as yet uncertain, but screening of “Examined Life” and Q & other activities, Justice Abella will give I remain hopeful that we will have good A with director Astra Taylor (March 26), a public talk on the evening of Novem- news on this front. and the Black History Month Photo ber 6, following a panel examining 25 For the past several months we Exhibit mounted by SFU’s Women’s years of employment equity in Canada. have also been engaged in discus- Studies program at SFU Teck Gallery This promises to be an exciting event, sions about a possible move to a and SFU Harbour Centre (February – so save that date in your calendars. new campus location. The Centre is May). In addition the Centre continued We welcomed 3 Visiting Scholars to in many respects a wonderful space: its weekly speakers’ series of noon- the Centre this term: Laurence Bach- centrally located, bright, and inviting. hour lectures every Wednesday (the mann from the University of Geneva, On the other hand it is a ‘temporary’ list of speakers appears elsewhere in Michelle Bastian from the University building and we continue to have prob- the newsletter). And we marked the of New South Wales, and Grace Puja lems with a leaky roof (in spite of re- publication of Volume 16 of Views from Ruaha University in Tanzania. pairs last fall), various wildlife, and are From the Edge with papers from the In April we look forward to welcom- just about bursting at the seams. The 2008 Graduate Student Conference. ing Lucy Delap from Cambridge Uni- economic meltdown has made our We eagerly look forward to this year’s versity who will be with us over the dreams of fundraising for a new space Graduate Student Conference, “Out- summer. Lucy is looking forward to in a new building much less realistic. renewing acquaintances made during Centre for Women’s and Gender Studies 3

So if suitable alternate space can be negotiated a move over the summer is a possibility. Graduate Advisor’s Report As always I am grateful for the hard Leonora C. Angles conferences, such as this year’s suc- work, unwavering support, and much cessful Graduate Student conference laughter shared with Jane Charles, I attended early this month what is per- dubbed “Outside the Lines” by our five our administrator, and Wynn Archibald, haps my last Graduate Advisor Forum amazing organizers – Andrea Carlson, our graduate/undergraduate secretary. before I step down in July. I was proud Bjorn Hjatardottir, Sarah Leamon, Mi- They make my job both easier and to share the many professional devel- chele Murphy, and Soni Thindal. The much more enjoyable. Special thanks opment initiatives we have been doing Conference is already our 16th, argu- also to Nora Angeles, who has served for our Women’s and Gender Studies ably one of the longest running series as Graduate Advisor for the past 2 graduate students. Among these initia- on campus entirely organized by stu- years and will be stepping down this tives are the seminars and workshops dents. We have one new MA graduate summer as Dawn Currie takes up the on grant proposal writing, submitting (Gemma Hunting) and two new PhD post. I am also grateful to my ‘other manuscript for publication, thesis writ- degree holders (Sirijit Sunanta and half’ at the Centre these past 2 years. ing, pedagogy, course syllabus devel- Marilou Carrillo). We have good suc- Wendy Frisby, Chair of the Women’s opment, teaching portfolio develop- & Gender Studies undergraduate pro- ment, and organizing interdisciplinary see page 4 gram, will be stepping down after 5 years at the helm. I will miss our al- most daily collaborations, though I know some of that will continue on our book project, and I am excited to work closely with Becki Ross who will take up the mantle from Wendy. I also want to thank the members of the CWAGS advisory committee for their advice and counsel; our Graduate Academic Assistants this year – Andrea Carl- son, Soni Thindal, and Eunkyung Choi – for their hard work; and the Princi- pal and Associate Principals of CFIS (Mike Burgess, Tim Cheek and Sneja Gunew) for their support of CWAGS during difficult times. Congratulations!

PhD Candidate Naomi Lloyd’s article “The Universal Divine Principle, the Spiritual Androgyne, and the New Age in Sarah Grand’s The Heavenly Twins” was published in the journal Victorian Literature and Culture (Mar. 2009 issue).

MA student Michele Murphy has been awarded a scholarship by Soroptimist Foundation Grants for Women. Nora Angeles with incoming Graduate Advisor Dawn Currie. 4 Centre for Women’s and Gender Studies

Visiting Scholar Report Graduate Advisor’s Report Laurence Bachmann, University of Geneva con’t from 3 cess rates in securing scholarships My visit at the Center for Women’s and from SSHRC and UGF, and outside Gender Studies at UBC was most en- grants, such as the one garnered re- riching and stimulating. For the new cently by Michele Murphy from Sorop- qualitative research which I have be- timist International. gun on women’s dispositions to gender In the midst of all these activities, transformation, my stay provided me this business and busy-ness we have with fresh inspiration through meet- created for ourselves, I could not help ing with many very interesting faculty but think how our graduate students members, visiting scholars, PhD stu- are doing not just as students but as dents, staff members, and others af- whole happy human beings – how are filiated with the Centre and with the their family and love lives? Do they go Sociology Department, to talk about my out on dates or dinners on weekends? research and to be open to their learn- Do they take strolls along the beach, ing and suggestions. I enjoyed partici- or watch the sunset? Do they take the pating in the CWAGS Lecture Series. time to cook their own food, or try out a Such a stimulating weekly meeting was new recipe in their kitchen? What form very worthwhile for one coming from of physical exercise do they have? Do the Gender Studies Unit of the Univer- they have the time to do their yoga, sity of Geneva. My visit also afforded er various forces around gender is- dance, ski, skip-rope, receive or give ideal conditions for me to work on my sues, and which gave me such a warm a massage, have sex, or simply relish forthcoming book De l’argent à soi. Les welcome, will always be happy ones. the fun of having some free time? préoccupations sociales des femmes à Who knows? Perhaps I will have a I ask these questions because I travers leur rapport à l’argent (Presses chance to stay there again sometime. wonder how our own graduate stu- universitaires de Rennes, 2009). This I would like to address my warmest dents may in fact mirror the very lives research explores women’s appropria- thanks to Gillian Cresse, director of the of harassed faculty members who tion of the democratic ideal of equality Centre, as well as to Wynn Archibald, juggle family, teaching, research, writ- and autonomy as revealed through their Jane Charles and Hui-Ling Lin for their ing, housework, community outreach, handling of money within a couple re- very nice welcoming. volunteer service, public engagement, lationship. My memories of this centre, committee work of all kinds. which is so proficient in bringing togeth- Because faculty members are often cast as powerful authority figures who examine, evaluate, rank and put students to tasks, we tend to overlook, if not ignore, the many ways by which faculty are, and by extension train our graduate students to be, “docile bodies.” Lisa Disch and Jean O’Brien re- mind us that “docile bodies are neither passive nor inert” but rather “vigor- ously active” in producing and reproducing “an ethos of productivity that we took to demand not mere efficiency but an inspired commitment to work of all kinds … not only as scholars and teachers but as agents of political “Piled Higher and Deeper” by Jorge Cham www.phdcomics.com and social change who work against Centre for Women’s and Gender Studies 5

the university from within in order to program requirements, present con- cause he was overworked and over- produce it” (148, original emphasis). ference papers in the very corners of stressed. Another is a former admin- Politically committed academics, com- the world, get grants and publications istrator who I met along with his wife, mon in service-oriented teaching and to land that precious tenure-track posi- at a UBC Faculty Mentoring Circle who research programs, survive from cre- tion – I feel that we are all complicit in died of heart attack alone in his office ating “innovation” through “overtime” this “innovation-is-overtime” ethos. As at a time when he was overseeing a (Disch and O’Brien 142). To imbue professionals, we do not literally work massive restructuring of our very own their academic positions with political overtime, but we identify with overtime home College. meaning, they draw from the legacy of labor as a sign of our independence In my other unit at SCARP, I chair professionalism and regard their work from market coercions. Our labour is the Teaching and Learning and Cur- as incommensurable, whose service, not really flexible like that of an as- riculum Committee, which we appropri- like that of doctors and preachers, is sembly line worker, but we identify ately call TLC. I like the acronym be- defined by public need. This notion of with flexible labor as we relish the flex- cause it reminds us about the tender incommensurability, Disch and O’Brien ibility to do what we really want, to do loving care we have to give ourselves, argue, make them believe that their more, and to do more in our own time. our colleagues and students as we go workplace -- the university’s “public The overworked but poised academic, about our academic lives as research- sector,” which includes women’s and Disch and O’Brien assert, is really a ers, teachers and learners. TLC should gender, critical sexuality, ethnic stud- “rate-buster” – “she makes everyone also stand for Total Living Credits or ies and other units that could not at- work longer and earn less” (164). Credentials we have to build as we tract corporate funding -- defy market I share these paradoxical aspects of nurture others and ourselves. The logic and imperatives: “We are willing academic life as I am reminded of two “rate-buster” academic can transform to do what needs doing rather than people I know: a Harvard graduate stu- herself from a paragon of the costly “in- stop at what we are ‘paid for’ ” (149, dent, son of an overworked academic novation-is-overtime” motto into a life- emphasis supplied). himself, who committed suicide not coach wellness instructor for her own As I observe our graduate students only because he was fighting demons sake and that of others. push themselves to the limit to finish within himself, but I imagine, also be- As I step down from my post as CWAGS Graduate Advisor, I am op- timistic that the new Grad Advisor, Dr Dawn Currie, will lead our graduate Congratulations to our graduating students! students and our program in taking further this critical feminist examination of “the everyday” in our lives as academ- Gemma Hunting, MA ics. I drink to the health and wellbeing of our graduate students -- it is time to Sirijit Sunanta, PhD, and take it easy, as the slow but steadfast Marilou Carrillo, PhD turtle, in the end, still wins the race. I am confident that the grad program will be in good hands under the leadership May. 20, 2009 of Dawn.

Reference Cited:

Lisa J Disch and Jean M OBrien, “Innovation is Overtime: An Ethical Analysis of “Politically Committed” Academic Labor, in Feminist Waves, Feminist Generation: Life Stories from the Academy, ed. Hokulani K Aikau, Karla A Erickson and Jennifer L Pierce (Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 2007), pp. 140-167. 6 Centre for Women’s and Gender Studies

News from the RAGA Centre Race, Autobiography, Gender and Age

Sunera Thobani, Director Bastian from the University of New South Wales. Along with Dr. Sneja Gunew (Associ- Dr. Thobani is also a Steering Com- ate Principal, College for Interdisciplin- mittee member of the Researchers and ary Studies, UBC) and Dr. Malashri Lal Academics of Colour for Equity (RACE) (Professor, Delhi University), RAGA cross-Canada network. The network Director, Dr. Sunera Thobani, was a is committed to promoting critical race convenor of the interdisciplinary Sym- feminist scholarship in Canada and it posium, Beyond Binaries and Borders, be hosting the Annual RACE confer- held March 13-14, at the Liu Institute ence in Montreal at Concordia and for Global Issues. The Symposium McGill Universities. The theme of this addressed the theme of food, with a conference is The Politics, Cultures and particular focus on salmon. The pre- Economies of ‘Doing Good’. Racelink, sentations examined different intercul- the bi-annual newsletter published by benevolent others? Who is positioned tural and interdisciplinary approaches RACE, is available to members. For and empowered to ‘do good’? How is to food, and included papers by Dr. more information, kindly contact Dr. ‘doing good’ historically embedded and Michael Burgess, Principal of CFIS, Thobani. what are some of its foreseen and un- on the ethics of genome sequencing foreseen consequences? What does of salmon; Dr. David Close on the re- an anti-racist and anti-colonial lens lationship of the sacred to food among The 9th Annual Critical reveal about past and present humani- West Coast Indigenous peoples; Race Conference tarian actions and interventions, and Dr. Malashri Lal on fasting traditions how might it inform present and future among different communities of wom- Compassion, Complicity and practice(s)? What are the relations been in India; Dr. Kornelia Slavova on the Conciliation: The Politics, Cultures tween humanitarianism and imperial- changing relationship of women to food and Economies of ‘Doing Good’ ism? How can these relations be ex- and cultural representations in post- posed and meaningfully addressed? communist Bugeria; Dr. Sneja Gunew Montreal, June 5-7 2009 We invite panels and papers from on the use of food in family narratives Concordia and McGill Universities scholars, activists, and researchers among diasporic communities; and Dr. whose work engages an antiracist, anti- Thobani on the representation of the CALL FOR PAPERS colonial, and anti-imperialist frame- relationship among gender, nation, work. We welcome papers in French. citizenship and food in Indian cinema. Global political activism, official apolo- Topics can include, but are not lim- Graduate students responded to many gies, charity, advocacy and solidarity ited to: of the presentations as discussants. campaigns, ‘rescue’ missions, truth and It is anticipated that the exchange of reconciliation hearings, private philan- • Truth and reconciliation commis- ideas at the Symposium will lead to thropy, ‘humanitarian’ interventions…. sions collaborative research initiatives in the The politics, cultures and economies of • The discourses and politics of future. (See full report on the Sympo- doing good seem to have gained a re- apologies sium in this newsletter). demptive, sanctioned and empowering The RAGA Centre has had three status, which has elevated actions and • Dynamics and representations of Visiting Scholars this term: Dr. Grace actors above critical scrutiny. This con- benevolence Puja was an IDRC Visiting Scholar ference is aimed at interrogating the • The politics of humanitarianism from Carleton University; Dr. Laurence politics and practice(s) of ‘doing good’. • Geopolitics and ethics in the con- Bachmann was visiting from the Uni- It asks: What is defined as ‘doing good’ text of empire, colonial relations versity of Geneva and Dr. Michelle and how is it tied to constructions of and histories of citizenship Centre for Women’s and Gender Studies 7

• NGOs and the politics of ‘doing The deadline for abstracts has been good’ extended to March 16, 2009. Please • Cultural activism, coalitions and send a 250-500 word abstract with title, collaborations keywords and institutional affiliation to • Environmental justice vs conser- [email protected], or to Yas- vation min Jiwani, Communication Studies, Concordia University, 7141 Sherbrooke • Hierarchies of ‘doing good’ St. West, Montreal, QC, H4B 1R6, or • Reproducing colonial hierarchies Charmaine Nelson, Dept. of Art History, through “change agents” McGill University, 853 Sherbrooke St. • Racialized and gendered dynam- West, Montreal, QC, H3A 2T6. ics of compassion • Cause-related marketing • Working across lines of power in solidarity/coalitions • Problematizing Aid (health, medi- Revealed at last, the mysterious downstairs cal, food) neighbour who’s been making a racket con- • Exaltations of ‘civil society’ structing a nest beneath CWAGS Director Gil- • Academic-activist research part- lian Creese’s office this spring. Babies should be arriving shortly..... nerships and interventions • Militarization, occupation and humanitarianism 8 Centre for Women’s and Gender Studies

Community Visitor Report Niki Silva CWAGS Community Philippine Women Centre of BC Visitor Program The Centre for Women’s and Gender As a second generation young Filipino Studies (CWAGS) has established a woman, and a community organizer for Community Visitors Program (CVP) the Philippine Women Centre of BC as part of its outreach initiatives. The (PWC-BC), I was inspired by the sto- CVP is intended to assist community- ries of Filipino women to help research based and grass roots organizations issues affecting them mainly around in research initiatives that could be Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s undertaken using the resources of the Live-In Caregiver Program (LCP). As a Centre and the university. young single mother, I was able to per- The CVP offers wage replacement sonally connect issues of the childcare for up to two months for one staff crisis and saw how Canada uses the member in a community-based orga- LCP as a de-facto childcare program. I nization which will thus be able to hire made the connection between the need a replacement. The staff person will for affordable healthcare and childcare, be affiliated with the Centre and be and how it affects Filipino domestic able to focus on the development of workers making them vulnerable to the problem, but also the current situa- new programs, the design of new proj- various forms of violence. For the last tion facing other migrant and immigrant ects, the analysis of current policies or 5 years I have been active in PWC, and communities here in Canada. trends, or the preparation of discus- recently began focusing specifically on We appreciate the opportunity given sion papers for public consumption or to us by the staff and faculty at CWAGS policy-makers. and remember back in 1991 when the The Community Visitors Program is ...As a young single mother, I visiting scholar program was first intro- open to all community organizations was able to personally connect duced. It was Cecilia Diocson who now working broadly to advance the in- issues of the childcare crisis sits as the Executive Director of the Na- terests of women and gender equity. tional Alliance of Philippine Women in and saw how Canada uses the Preference will be given to groups af- Canada, who was the visiting scholar filiated with the undergraduate and/or LCP as a de-facto childcare at the time. Through her stay at UBC, graduate Practicum in Women’s and program..... PWC made long term ties and connec- Gender Studies at U.B.C. tions with UBC professors and students The Centre works to stimulate femi- who began to study the situation of Fili- nist research and to facilitate inter- pinos in Canada further bringing out the violence against women and young change of ideas and collaboration economic marginalization of our com- women’s issues. among researchers, students, and munity, and still continue to support our It has been an educational and excit- communities both locally and globally. work. I feel this opportunity has been ing stay here at the Centre for Women Community Visitors will be expected just as positive. and Gender Studies at UBC. Though to participate in the activities of the The resources, databases, and con- two months is not long enough to com- Centre and to give a public presenta- tacts we accessed in the last two plete a research project on Violence tion at the Centre during the subse- months will assist us in pushing forward Against Filipino Women in Canada, it quent university term. has been a compliment to the grass- our work in order to continue providing The deadline for application falls in roots community-based research we services for Filipino women who suffer January of each year. For further in- have been doing on the issue over the from violence. Thank you to everyone formation about the program contact last 20 years. Not only has it given us who welcomed me into the centre, and us at [email protected]. the opportunity to deepen our under- for the continuous support for myself standing on Canadian policies around and PWC. Centre for Women’s and Gender Studies 9

News from CWAGS Graduate Student Association

Gemma Hunting

Over the speedy passing of another academic year, the WAGS-GSA has had the pleasure to support and participate in a variety of events and initiatives. As your MA and PhD representatives (Gemma Hunting and Emilia Nielsen respectively), we feel privileged to have worked with a dedicated team of grad students. The energy and time put in by many on the GSA (and its supporters), has contributed to the great success of both International Women’s Day events and the Gender Performances Project. In celebration of International Women’s Day in March 2009, ac- claimed feminist author Evelyn C. White joined us at the Centre for an afternoon ‘tea and chat’ and later delivered a keynote address at the GSS Penthouse. It was clear among those that partici- pated in both events that Evelyn’s mes- PhD candidate Xin Huang (3rd from left) with fellow presenters at the International Association for sage was inspiring; her positive outlook the Study of Sexuality, Culture, and Society conference in Hanoi, April 15-18, 2009. Xin’s presenta- and vision challenged each of us to re- tion From “Hyper-Feminine” to Androgyny: Gender Politics in Contemporary China was part of flect on what allows us to be our truest the panel “Chinese Alternative Genders, Same-sex Sexualities and the Media” selves and live with mindful intention. We would like to thank everyone who one-day symposium “Creating Resis- Dialogues”; and in March 2009, Evelyn helped make these events a success, tance” at UBC this fall, Gender Perfor- C. White’s keynote address for Inter- especially the fine folks at Access & Di- mances also facilitated an artist talk by national Women’s Day. Gender Perfor- versity, CCFI, CSIS, CCIE, Gender Per- body performance artist Orlan (notable mances also co-sponsored a special formances Project, CWAGS, WAGS, co-sponsors included The Consulate screening of the much discussed film and the WAGS-GSA. General of France as well as CWAGS Examined Life that was shown at the In other important news, the WAGS- and the WAGS-GSA!), and a lecture SUB’s Norm Theatre in March 2009. GSA’s own Gender Performances Proj- and discussion by internationally-laud- Gender Performances invites new ect is the proud recipient of financial ed queer activist Louis-George Tin (an members to get involved in their numer- assistance from the 2009/2010 AMS event co-sponsored with Arsenal Pulp ous upcoming projects. Current initia- Innovative Projects Fund. Based on ex- Press and The Consulate General of tives include reactivating a study group emplary achievements at UBC and an France). on performance studies, launching cre- innovative proposal for future events, Subsequently, Gender Performances ative projects, and organizing a student Gender Performances was awarded was asked to co-sponsor a number of conference proposed for March 2010 $5000.00 to continue highlighting art progressive events at UBC, and across to highlight undergraduate and gradu- and activism at UBC. This is the second Vancouver, including: in November ate student work in the rubric of per- time Gender Performances has been 2008, “Showcasing Research on South formance, gender, and sexuality. We selected for funding by the Innovative Asian Diaspora in Canada”; in Decem- invite all undergraduate and graduate Projects Fund! ber 2008, “WACK!: The After Party” at students interested in developing any In addition to organizing the top-notch VIVO; in February 2008, “The Vagina of these ideas, or other ideas associat- 10 Centre for Women’s and Gender Studies

ed with gender, the politics of sexuality “Decolonizing Policy Discourse: Re- Lee, Jane. `Book Review: Han Ku`: and performance, to become involved! framing the ‘Problem’ of FASD” (poster Critical Art and Writing by Korean Ca- Some student updates we are presentation). “Looking Back, Think- nadian Women`. Atlantis: A Woman`s happy to acknowledge include Gemma ing Ahead: Using Research to Im- Studies Journal. (Spring 33.2) Hunting’s upcoming graduation in May prove Policy and Practice in Women’s 2009 and Jenny Fawcett’s receipt of the Health.” The Atlantic Centre of Excel- SALLY MENNILL Patrick David Campbell Graduate Fel- lence for Women’s Health. The Westin lowship this past January. Jenny also Nova Scotian, Halifax, NS, Canada. Conferences: co-hosted the very successful “Vagina March 2009. Dialogues: A Critical Response to Eve “Safety, Nature, and Choice: Post-War Ensler’s ‘The Vagina Monologues’” “The BC Conversation on Health: A Mothering Discourses in Canada and with Cody Yorke, Anoushka Ratnara- Conversation for the Privileged.” “New the Rising Incidence of Caesarean jah and Andrea Carlson in February Directions for Social Research.” Soci- Section.” 17th Annual Conference of 2009 and acted as guest editor for the ology Graduate Student Conference. the Women’s History Network. Univer- Ubyssey’s annual women’s issue in University of British Columbia, Van- sity of Glasgow, Scotland. September March 2009. couver, BC. March 2009. 2008. We look forward to this year’s WAGS Graduate Conference, entitled Outside JANE LEE Publications: the Lines: A Conference for Interdis- ciplinary Feminist Research that will Conferences: Mennill, S. and V. Strong-Boag. take place on April 29, 2009 at the “Abused and Murdered: One Often Graduate Student Centre. WAGS-GSA “Vancouver’s ‘Koreatown’: Compli- Forgotten Story in the History of Chil- members are actively involved in the menting and Contesting Discoures of dren and Youth in Canadian Families” conference as organizers, presenters, ‘Race’, Space, and Nation.” 7th Annual Canadian Bulletin of Medical History and panel moderators. In addition, we Hawaii International Conference on Art 25:2 (2008). invite those who are interested to pick and Humanities. Vancouver’s Session up a newly-released copy of Views Chair of the Panel, “Ethnic Studies.” EMILIA NIELSEN from the Edge 15, which includes pa- Honolulu, Hawaii. January, 2009. pers from last year’s graduate student Publications: symposium, Shifting Boundaries: Inter- “Vancouver’s ‘Koreatown’: Compli- disciplinary Feminist Research. menting and Contesting Discoures of “Unfulfilled Promises: Troubling Traf- ‘Race,’ Class, and Nation in ‘Multicul- ficked Women in Eastern Promises” WAGS Graduate Student tural’ Canada.” Pacific Worlds in Mo- Re-public: Re-imagining Democracy Accomplishments tion II: An Interdisciplinary Graduate (Greece), Winter 2009. Conference on Asian Migrations. Ses- GEMMA HUNTING sion: Contesting Discourses of Race. National University of Singapore, Sin- Conferences: gapore. March 2009.

“Understanding Health Inequity: Mov- Publications: check it out. ing Beyond ‘Culture’ Paradigms” (co- presenter). “Race-ing Hegemonies, Lee, Jane. `Vancouver`s `Koreatown`: Resurging Imperialisms: Building Complimenting and Contesting Dis- thirdspace Anti-Racist and Anti-Colonial Theory courses of `Race`, Space, and Nation and Practice for Our Times.” The 8th In `Multicultural`Canada.` 7th Annual Annual Critical Race and Anticolonial Hawaii International Conference on the journal for emerging Studies Conference of Researchers Arts and Humanities. Conference Pro- feminist scholars and Academics of Colour for Equality. ceedings. January 9-12, 2009. ISSN/ Ryerson University, Toronto, ON, Can- 1541 - 5899. Hawaii Press. ada. Nov. 2008. www.thirdspace.ca Centre for Women’s and Gender Studies 11

Update Women’s and Gender Studies Undergraduate Program Wendy Frisby, Chair Director of the Centre when I started and I am grateful for your ongoing sup- this position. I learned much about the port, friendship and encouragement. It has been a great pleasure serving as politics of the academy from Sneja and The sessional instructors in Women’s Chair of the undergraduate program in how to survive the difficult times. Gil- and Gender Studies have such pas- Women’s and Gender Studies for the lian Creese, the current Director, has sion for the work they do and contribute last 5 years. It is gratifying to know that amazing energy and has also been in such important ways to the interdis- Dr. Becki Ross will be taking over for a fabulous to work with. A highlight for ciplinary nature of the program, even 3 year term starting July 1, 2009. Becki me has been co-editing a forthcoming though they are never compensated brings with her an intimate knowledge book with her, Feminist Methodologies adequately. There have been too many of the program, students, instructors, in Community-Based Research, as of you over the last 5 years to name and staff along with many exciting new part of the 35th anniversary of the pro- individually, but you know who you are ideas on how to make the program gram. It has been a great honor to work and I hope our paths will continue to continue to thrive in this economic and with so many internationally renowned cross in the future. I am also grateful political climate. I wish Becki all the scholars who are highly dedicated to to the CWAGS graduate students who very best in her new position and look teaching and service. Working with have contributed to the program as forward to working with her through the Nora Angeles, Sneja Gunew, Sharalyn teaching assistants. transition. At the Centre, I have found Orbaugh, Valerie Raoul, Becki Ross, In addition to saying my goodbyes, my collegial and intellectual communi- Nikki Strong-Boag and Sunera Tho- there is some additional news. I am ty and look forward to attending events bani has been a highlight of my career thrilled to announce that Dr. Deena to stay connected to the wonderful people and important initiatives being undertaken. There are a number of people that I would like to thank for making my time as Chair such a stimulating and rewarding one. First, Jane Charles and Wynn Archibald have been exceptional and have quietly assisted me in numerous ways. I am truly amazed at their dedication to Women’s and Gen- der Studies and how they go above and beyond their job descriptions time and time again. Catching up and see- ing their smiling faces every morning is something I am really going to miss. WAGS students are also amazing and my life has been enriched by having the opportunity to work with members of the undergraduate association including Mary Ann Brown, April Tam and Sheanthi DeSilva. Students work hard to counter the chilly climate that they still encounter and I know they will make exceptional contributions where ever their post UBC days take Outgoing Program Chair Wendy Frisby (centre) with Sheanthi De Silva (1) and April Tam(r), Presi- them. I would also like to thank Sneja dent and Vice-President respectively of the Women’s and Gender Studies Undergraduate Associa- Gunew, a brilliant woman, who was the tion, at the end-of term party, April 3, 2009. 12 Centre for Women’s and Gender Studies

Rhymes has been hired in the English, Gender and Indigenous Studies position and will be joining us in July, 2009. Convocation Deena is filling the position vacated when Valerie Raoul retired and has a May 2009 joint appointment in WAGS and Eng- lish. She does research with aboriginal prison writers and will be a wonderful addition. And, even though the Centre Congratulations to our has served as a cozy space for many wonderful events and stimulating graduating students! ideas, it is not a permanent structure. We have had to deal with leaks, mold and various critters for years. I can- Bachelor of Arts not make an official announcement at this time, but it looks like WAGS and CWAGS has found a new permanent Heidi Chan space on campus and they could be Carellin Brooks, Women’s and Gender Studies Sheanthi De Silva moving in this summer. I have great sessional instructor, with daughter Clover, born faith in the ability of all those connect- March 4, 2009. Jasmeen Dosanjh ed to the Centre to recreate the climate Seyedeh Ehsan Alavi and community in the new space and I look forward to visiting often. Derek Eidick Souzan Eliassi Bakhtiari Stephanie Hallett Karen Ko Kelly Lau Jane Li Lauren McIllfaterick Saadia Rai Anna Reiser Brodie Rogers Christina Rzepa Carolina Sandoval Jen Sung Pooneh Yazdani Cody Yorke

The WAGS Undergraduate Association has once again come up with some great t-shirt designs. The t-shirts can be purchased at the Centre for Women’s and Gender Studies reception desk: $20 each or 2/$35. All proceeds to the Women’s and Gender Studies Undergraduate Society. Centre for Women’s and Gender Studies 13

Symposium Beyond Binaries and Borders symposium

The intercultural and interdisciplinary symposium “Beyond Binaries and Borders” took place March 13th - 14th at the Liu Institute for Advanced Stud- ies. The Symposium’s mandate was to look at the ways in which intercultural and interdisciplinary approaches intersect using the case study of food with an emphasis on fish. Interdisci- plinary UBC speakers were joined by two scholars from India and Eastern Europe. The symposium was part of UBC’s Celebrate Research Week. Sneja Gunew, Sunera Thobani, and Malashri Lal were convenors, and the event was sponsored by UBC’s College for Interdisciplinary Studies Dr. David A. Close (Himko-Kaps-kap) Dr. Malashri Lal (CFIS), the Social Sciences and Hu- manities Research Council (SSHRC), Applied Ethics, Asian Studies, Fisher- ies; Eating ‘Chinese’ Across the and St. John’s College. Björg Hjartar- ies, English, Women’s Studies, Art His- World dottir (doctoral student in the Centre tory, and Film Studies. A few Graduate • Dr. Kornelia Slavova Slavova: The for Women’s and Gender Studies) and students were invited to respond to se- ‘Wheel of Life’ Turning: Women and Food Practices in Postcommunist Saadia Rai (undergraduate student in lect papers, speaking to the collabora- Bulgaria. the Women’s and Gender Studies pro- tive nature of this project and the possi- • Dr. Malashri Lal Lal: Promises to gram) were the organizers. bilities for its continuation and growth. Keep: Women’s Ritual Fasting in Sneja Gunew began the conference India by discussing the symposium mandate Papers presented included: and the reasons for bringing scholars The final session was a roundtable together across disciplines. Dr. Gunew • Dr. Mike Burgess: Cultural Repre- of sorts that allowed all the participants focussed on the possibilities that she sentations of Salmon in deliberative of the symposium - presenters, orga- public engagement. Respondent hoped would arise from this collabora- nizers, and audience - to discuss the tion and emphasized that this is a work Alice Hawkins. • Dr.Tim Cheek Professor and Dr. events of the symposium and work- in progress. Possible goals included Louis Cha: The Challenge of Ben- shop and list ideas of “where to go future symposia and conferences, re- tuhua (Localisation of Knowledge): next.” Of particular interest was the search collaborations and publications, Doing Social and Natural Science issue of hunger and participants were and most importantly creating a forum Research with Chinese Scholars. keen to discuss areas that were of in- and network for discussions that may Respondent Xin Huang. terest for further research and future open up new ways of looking at re- • Dr. David A. Close (Himko-Kaps- symposia. search while examining the concept of kap): “Tamaalwit” the Sacred Law interdisciplinarity itself. • Dr. Margery Fee: Is Race Real? Re- Thanks to Kim Snowden, PhD, RA to The format of a symposium was spondent Sonnet l’Abbé. • Dr. Sunera Thobani: From Mother the project, for this excerpt from her con- chosen specifically to create an envi- India to India Shining: Representa- ference report to SSHRCC. ronment more open for discussion and tions of Food, Gender and Nation conversation. Guests and speakers in Popular Indian Cinema. Respon- Photos courtesey of John Corry and were invited from many disciplines in- dent Rajdeep Singh Gill. Francesca Lanata. cluding: Genetics, Biomedical Ethics, • Dr. Sneja Gunew: Affective Anxiet- 14 Centre for Women’s and Gender Studies

Jerilynn Prior Chris Shelley Aufa Cooper Claudia Ruitenberg

Centre for Women’s & Gender Studies Spring 2009 Lecture Series

January 14 February 4 Michelle Bastian Jerilynn Prior Afua Cooper University of New South Wales Scientific Director, Centre for Menstrual Ruth Wynn Woodward Endowed Chair, Visiting Scholar at CWAGS, UBC Cycle & Ovulation Research; Profes- Women’s Studies, SFU The Timing of an Apology: Re-shaping sor, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Gender and Slavery: The Canadian community through re-articulations of UBC Experience time The Estrogen Misogynacle - Progester- one Is Ignored or Vilified in Women’s February 11 March 18 Health” Beth Seaton Chris Shelly Women’s and Gender Studies, UBC Women’s and Gender Studies, UBC January 21 Believing in Nature in an Environment Trauma and Teleology: Embodied Ide- Bruce Fulton of Denial als in Trans Somatechnics Asian Studies, UBC Body Parts and Family Fragments: The February 25 March 25 Fictional Worlds of P’yon Hye-yong Claudia Ruitenberg Jade Boyd and Kim Ae-ran Educational Studies, UBC Women’s and Gender Studies, UBC The Ghost That Won’t Give Up: Wom- The Body Never Lies: Dance reality January 28 en’s Studies and the Persistent Spec- television and the fashioning of (Amer- Kim Snowden ter of Relativism ica’s) authentic-self Women’s and Gender Studies, UBC Fairy Tale Film in the Classroom: Femi- March 4 April 1 nist Cultural Pedagogy, Angela Carter, Laura Hurd Clarke Neelu Kang and Neil Jordan’s The Company of Human Kinetics, UBC Department of Sociology, Panjab Uni- Wolves Women, Beauty Work, and Aging versity, India March 11 Activism in Transition: Women Groups in Post 1990s India

Centre for Women’s and Gender Studies 15

Visiting Scholars Program 2010-2011 Academic Year

The University of British Columbia offers a Visiting Scholar Program as an integral part of its Centre for Women’s and Gender Studies. Scholars working in these areas are encouraged to apply to spend leave time (one to six months) in affiliation with the Centre. The goal of the Centre is to stimulate feminist research and to facilitate interchange of ideas and collaboration among scholars, at UBC and elsewhere. Scholars will be expected to participate in the activities of the Centre and to give a public lecture during their term. The Visiting Scholar program is open to faculty, both untenured and tenured, as well as to independent scholars who are engaged in critical work on women and gender, who are not currently working on a higher degree at any institution and who reside Michelle Bastian (1), (Department of Philosophy, University of New South Wales), with PhD Can- in areas outside the B.C. Lower Main- didate Xin Huang. Michelle was a CWAGS Visiting Scholar Feb. - May, 2009. land. Some funding for travel expens- es (to a maximum of $3000) is available for scholars from “developing” Applications must include: countries. In its selection of visitors, the Centre hopes to create a diverse • Curriculum vitae community of junior and senior schol- • A detailed statement of re- ar-researchers. The Centre is particu- search plans for the time pe- larly interested in applicants who are riod • The length of stay proposed situated within existing Women’s Stud- and the dates ies centres which might be interested • Estimate of travel costs (for in forging future international links. scholars from “developing” Scholars will normally be pro- countries requesting financial vided with shared office space at the support) Centre or a computer workstation in the RAGA Centre, Koerner Library, The applicant must also arrange to phone and secretarial assistance. have two referees forward their assess- The University’s academic year ments to: Visiting Scholar Program, runs from September to April; there- UBC Centre for Women’s and Gender fore applicants are encouraged to Studies, 1896 East Mall, Vancouver, schedule the majority of their visit B.C., Canada, V6T 1Z1. to the Centre during these months. The closing date for receipt of appli- Lucy DeLap, St. Catharine’s College, Univer- This program is likely to be of particu- cations is December 31, 2009. sity of Cambridge, will visit the Centre Apr. - lar interest to scholars who are on sab- Aug. 2009. batical. THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA CENTRE FOR WOMEN’S AND GENDER STUDIES

The Centre for Women’s and Gender Studies is a part of the College for Interdisciplinary Studies at The University of British The University of British Columbia 1896 East Mall Columbia. Our primary purposes are to: Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1

Phone: 604-822-9171 • Highlight the significance of research Fax: 604-822-9169 in Women’s Studies or Gender Email: [email protected] Website: www.wmst.ubc.ca Relations and feminist research in all fields; Gillian Creese, Director 604-822-9175 [email protected]

Leonora Angeles, Graduate Advisor • Encourage UBC faculty, graduate 604-822-4085 [email protected] students and others to meet together

Sunera Thobani, RAGA Director in multi-disciplinary groups for 604-822-9265 [email protected] discussion and research in these areas;

Jane Charles, Administrator 604-822-9173 [email protected] • Bring UBC researchers together with Wynn Archibald, Graduate Secretary activists and researchers from other 604-822-9171 [email protected] institutions in Canada and abroad, and Members of the Advisory Committee: from within the community; and Gillian Creese, Director CWAGS (Chair) Leonora Angeles, Graduate Advisor Erin Baines, Liu Institute for Global Issues • Communicate support for women’s Susan Boyd, Law Anne Condon, Computer Science studies, gender analysis and feminist Margery Fee, English research to governments, insitutions, Wendy Frisby, Chair, Women’s Studies Program Gemma Hunting, MA Student, Women’s and Gender Studies community groups and the public Madeleine MacIvor, First Nations House of Learning in British Columbia, Canada and Emilia Nielsen, PhD Student, Women’s and Gender Studies Jerilynn Prior, Medicine elsewhere. Valerie Raoul, Director of SAGA Veronica Strong-Boag, Educational Studies Sunera Thobani, Women’s and Gender Studies Manuela Valle, PhD Student Women’s and Gender Studies Colleen Varcoe, Nursing Amanda Vincent, Fisheries Centre Dominique Weis, Earth and Ocean Sciences

This Newsletter is published by The University of British Columbia’s Centre for Women’s and Gender Studies twice a year. It is available in electronic form (PDF) on our website: http://www.wmst.ubc.ca/publicationsNewsletters.html. Any part of this newsletter may be reprinted with credit to the source.

If you would like to share your feedback with us or contribute to the newsletter, please contact the coordinator of the newsletter [email protected].