No 2/99 December Activism versus Focus on: “academic quality” How to combine the interests of political activists with the need of Gender Equality feminist academics for scholary merit and intellectual stimulus? Views vary on how successful the Women’s Worlds 99 Conference in Tromsø was in this respect. and Feminism(s) Page 9 -11 How do we define gender equality in relation to feminism in the Nordic countries today, and how similar actually are the Nordic countries to each other in this area? What is the difference between feminism of today and the feminism of Research Course yesterday? Were the feminists of the seventies raving man In August 2000 NIKK will organize a haters - and is the ”new wave” of Nordic feminism, which course that applies critical feminist first began in Sweden, really only a phenomenon created perspective to the researchprocesses by the media? in qualitative research. Gender researchers from several Page 15 Nordic countries met in Oslo last November to debate and challenge widely-held conceptions and myths concerning feminism, the Nordic “Living model of gender equality and the normative stereotypes regarding gender presented in the media and for Tomorrow”: advertising. With NIKK as organizer, people from The conference “Invisible eight European countries met for boundaries - gender and power” three days in Tallinn in Estonia this was held under the auspices of the November to explore grounds for Research Council of Norway by the cooperation, linking gender research research programs Gender in Transi- to sex education for young people. tion and Power and Democracy Basis for the cooperation is the NIKK (Kjønn i endring og Makt- og project “Living for Tomorrow”. demokratiutredningen). About 150 participants, among them also rep- Page 18 resentatives of the political and ad- The Danish feminist magazine ministrative gender equality ”estab- “Kvinder” from the seventies and lishment” in Norway and the media, eighties exposed issues that so far The 2000 Calender were gathered at the beautiful con- had belonged to the private sphere. ference site Soria Moria on top of “News from NIKK” provides you with the hill overlooking the centre of the Magnusson, Drude Dahlerup an updated international Calender of capital. presented the Danish radical Events for the year 2000. feminist movement Rødstrømperne Page 25-27 The Danish ”Redstockings” (“Redstockings”) from the seventies In the session “The gender equality and eighties. In her extensive project: reflection and opposition” led by NIKK’s research director Eva cont. page 2 News from NIKK 2/99 GENDER EQUALITY AND FEMINISM

“On the 8. April 1970 a group of At the same time this feminist young women - there were actually movement was a necessary prereq- not more than about 15 of them - uisite for the development of the marched down Copenhagen’s main gender equality politics. While the pedestrian street, Strøget. They gender equality feminists concen- shouted slogans against the cos- trated on bringing women into the metic industry’s exploitation of public sphere, into politics and busi- women and demanded equal pay. ness, and left out the private sphere, On the placards they had written: the women’s lib feminists did not “Women, stand up!”. With enormous distinguish between the oppression stuffed bosoms, big hats, false eye- of women in the private and in pub- lashes and red stockings, they lic sphere. They argued that every brought not only their slogans, but woman had to liberate herself, whilst also their own young bodies to the the gender equality model had as attention of the public. Here was a it’s aim to save ”the others”, new kind of feminist. This was the Dahlerup states in her presentation. first demonstration by the She also shows how women’s lib Redstockings in Denmark, and the feminism actually legitimised the Christina Smith-Erichsen, one of the press covered the event exten- gender equality politics. Gender editors for the Norwegian anthology sively.” equality became the state’s answer ”Matriark”, finds it problematic to - Many myths abound regarding to the more extreme demands from focus on women as a group the way feminists of the seventies and the the women’ lib feminists for changes they did with the book. Redstockings. That they were raving in society, over and above gender man haters, that they actually were equality. research, which is unique in its field, against gender equality, states That which gender equality femi- Dahlerup analysed and described Drude Dahlerup. These are myths nism and women’s lib feminism also the Redstockings’ history from and stories based on prejudice, had in common was that they both 1970-85: who they were, what ideals which are transmitted to the next rebelled against deterministic biol- and aims they aspired to, how they generation - and also in fact repro- ogy tradition which talked about the organised themselves and what they duced by some of the “new” femi- ”unchangeable nature” of women achieved. Drude Dahlerup, who was nists. and men, a trend which is well on its herself a Redstocking, is today way back into today’s popular de- Professor of Political Science at Radical, social movement bate on gender issues in media. Stockholm University. Also on the But according to Dahlerup, the Moreover, the two tendencies were panel was Christina Smith Erichsen, Danish Redstocking movement was united in their demands regarding ▲ one of the editors of the Norwegian first and foremost a radical, leftist, anthology “Matriark” and an expo- social liberation movement. Here nent of the “new” feminist trend. they differ both from today’s young feminists and the gender equality Media Focus oriented women’s groups which Is it in any way possible to compare Drude Dahlerup names ”equality the feminism of the seventies with feminism”, and which today is the new wave of feminism which we official state policy in the Nordic encounter in the Swedish book countries. “Fittstim” (”Cunt Cascade”) and the The women´s liberation feminists similar Norwegian anthologies as the Redstockings maintains that ”Råtekst” (raw/rough draft) and a prerequisite for women’s liberation Matriark (“Matriarch”)? One similar- is a classless society and vice versa. ity at least is the focus on how the Their slogan was therefore: “No media, fashion industry and adver- women’s liberation without class tising speculate in women’s bodies struggle” and “No class struggle and sexuality - at the same time as without women’s liberation.” At that these protests get wide media time the great potential of the coverage. The Redstockings’ debut Redstockings in Denmark was their on the media ”scene” is described ability to mobilise, to develop new Drude Dahlerup has analysed and like this by Drude Dahlerup in her ways of thinking and alternative documented the development of the two volume book: ways of doing things, Drude largest feminist movement in Scandi- Dahlerup points out. navia during a period of 15 years. 2 GENDER EQUALITY AND FEMINISM News from NIKK 2/99

Ambivalence to feminism Christina Smith-Erichsen admits to being what has been characterised as ”one of the young, hip feminists” and describes the attention given to the publishing of the Norwegian anthology “Matriark” as “absurd”. She admits that she herself and her generation of women feel am- bivalent about feminism. She thinks the feminism of the seventies was characterised by portraying them- selves as victims in every way, and if there is anything today’s young, well-educated feminists refuse to be seen as, it is as victims. - There is something destructive in joining a community which wor- ships everything feminine and sees itself as victim of outside forces, she argues. It is difficult for us to speak on behalf of other women. It is prob- lematic in itself to focus on women as a group, the way we do in the collection of essays “Matriark”. Our aim is to be seen as individual hu- man beings, not as members of a sex, she says. At the same time Christina Smith-Erichsen recognises that women are still unfairly treated be- cause of their sex and that it is nec- essary “at times” to act as a group, that there still is a need for being organised as women to achieve certain goals. But there is reason to The many colourful protestmarches launched by the ”Redstockings” against protest against the glorification of the portrayal of women in the media and advertising got wide media cover- the female. Women are not saints by age in the early seventies. nature, she points out. women’s autonomy and the integra- equality is concerned. Moreover, A common utopia tion of both sexes in the private and gender equality feminism completely The debate following the panel public sectors. ignores structural conditions, as the presentations there was pointed out The sole player on the field question of power in a globalizing that it is easier to see what unites than What challenges are the Nordic world. what divides feminism throughout the societies faced with after twenty - Gender equality suffers under ages. Feminism involves a shared years of legislation and politics of consensus at its lowest level, utopia, it is a rebellion against oppres- gender equality? Drude Dahlerup namely: “Let us all agree on gender sion, a protest against being under- draws a picture of a rather equality because it is to everyone’s mined and dominated. Drude ”monocultural” society: advantage”. But real gender equality Dahlerup concluded by saying that - State feminism is the only can not be to everyone’s advantage. each generation of feminists will player left on the field. Gender It has to involve exclusion and dis- define themselves differently accord- equality is not an election topic and crimination, that somebody has to ing to the way society changes, and has in general a low political lever- go without privileges. It will be about that it is only natural for young girls to age. Today’s Nordic gender equality confrontation, for how much can rebel against their mother. policy turns a completely blind eye you change the world by being to ethnic groups and the challenges nice? asks Drude Dahlerup. Trine Lynggard they represent as far as gender 3 News from NIKK 2/99 GENDER EQUALITY AND FEMINISM The ”Cunt Cascade” takes on Denmark

The notoriously titled feminist anthology Fittstim (”Cunt Cascade”) first took Sweden by storm, and created a media uproar. Sexual equality was on the agenda again, in a way that hadn’t been seen for years. Less than six months later a Norwegian version of the book Råtekst (Rough Draft) with original Norwegian contributions hit the bookstands, inspiring a heated feminist debate in Norway. A new and vocal generation of uncompro- mising feminists had emerged – at least in Sweden and Norway. The Danish edition of ”Fittstim”. The Danish webmagazine FORUM and Cultur: „Feminism is about University of Copenhagen For Gender and Culture equality between the sexes – if you ,Feministisk Forum, have started a (www.forum.kvinfo.dk) was the first don’t approve of that, you’r not even series of debate meetings on Danish magazine to snap up the a humanist. We aren’t tired of the women in academia, Kvinfo is news about Fittstim and Råtekst. A feminists of the 70s. We honour currently holding a series of lectures couple of months later the story was them!“. The Danish editor Christina on Girl Power and two books on „ picked up by the dailies Information, Grøntved, however, denounces why it’s such a hell of a problem to Politiken and Berlinske Tidende. those feminists as „man-hating and be a woman“ have just come out. Everybody wondered what was bitter“, likens them to „men with going on in Denmark – or rather, lipstick“ and concludes: „I am not a Lacking funding and direction what wasn’t going on. Where was feminist. I am a Fittstim-feminist.“ On top of that, women’s issues the new generation of feminists? This garble illustrates one of the make good copy and the newspa- Why was the debate about sexual problems in the Danish debate on pers are full of it. But lacking is equality so limp and uninspired? equality. While a number of younger political backing, funding and women want to embrace a feminist direction. Successive governments Youth appeal ideal or vision, they jump through seem to think that equal opportunity Things may yet change. In Novem- hoops to distance themselves from is a problem that will take care of ber 99 the daily newspaper Informa- the feminists and the feminism of itself … given time rather than given tion published a Danish translation the 70s. Preferring in some cases to political impetus, prestige and of „Fittstim“. The journalist Christine idealize the „honest and stalwart resources. A Minister of Equal Grøntved has written an introduction suffragettes“ from way back. Clear Status has been appointed and The to the Danish edition and Stine thinking gets completely clouded Danish Council on Equal Status is Willumsen, a student at the Univer- over by mythological memorabilia of undergoing radical restructuring – sity of Copenhagen, has written the the 70s women’s movement. but we’ve heard from neither for single Danish contribution. Informa- quite a while. Women and gender tions hosted a debate night on „the Something is going on research lacks funding and prestige, problems young women have with Several recent publications in university centres in the field of their self-esteem in a so-called Denmark, however, testify to the gender research are slowly dying ‚equal-status‘ society“. The book fact, that there is something going from exhaustion, few universities has been reviewed by all major on – also among the „younger set“. have any kind of policies in place to newspapers to general right-on- Just to mention a few: four young secure women equal employment chicks applause. writers and opionion-makers have and research opportunity at univer- The book is published to appeal come clean as feminists in the sity level. to a younger set of feminists – the debate book Borgerlig ord efter daughters of 70s feminists. The revolution (”Civil observations after Annette Nielsen, Editor Forum for editors of the Swedish publication the revolution”) – although they of gender and culture Linda Norrman Skugge and Belinda course aren’t „70s feminists“. A Olsson said to FORUM for Gender group of younger women from the

4 GENDER EQUALITY AND FEMINISM News from NIKK 2/99 When feminism becomes entertainment

- The most important arena for newspaper copies. Criticism is today’s young Swedish feminists, turned into entertainment. She the anarchist feminists and the thinks they risk losing their political tabloid feminists, is the media. edge. Whilst the anarchist feminists burn porno pictures which look good on Criticism of the politics of equality direct TV-news broadcasts, the - Sweden is considered number one tabloid feminists write, talk and on the “Gender Equality List”. How make themselves visible in the would you account for the fact that media, for example, through the this ”wave” of new-feminism started book “Fittstim”, states journalist here of all places?” and author Petra Ulmanen. - Perhaps both anarchist and tabloid feminism is an answer to and - Personal stories of complexes a criticism of the politics of gender about ones own body, fashion equality and its rhetoric. The strug- pressure and influence of the media, gle for women’s liberation has eating disorders and sexual prob- become institutionalised at the same lems are well-suited to the media rate as the illusion has spread that world, where focus on the personal other people would now take care of and the body sell well at the newsa- it all, that ”everything is fine now”. gents’, whatever the ideological This is an illusion that can easily implications. One day they sell lead to passivity and frustration. Petra Ulmanen, Swedish journalist copies because of beauty and sex. Contempt for politicians and bu- and author, warns today’s young The next day sales are based on reaucrats is common and increas- feminists against using media as their reports of feminists raging against ing. At the same time the struggle most important arena. beauty and sex fixation, continues for gender equality is being run more Petra Ulmanen, author of the book and more from the top, by others, in about the Swedish “Stödstrumporna” more and more sophisticated ways. (”supportstockings”) in the nineties, In this way the dependency on the freedom of the press, even if by an effective women’s network and media as intermediaries of new doing so we could put an end to the pressure group before the 1994 developments on the gender way women’s democracy is being elections. She is also one of the equality front, increases. On the limited. editors of the Swedish feministic other hand, gender equality politics - What we have left are demon- cultural magazine “bang”. have employment and workplace as strations, advocacy and initiating the main focus. So here we risk public debates. But I would like a Losing their political edge losing focus on the more private and debate which focuses more on what Petra Ulmanen was invited to the personal aspects of oppression, the media’s picture of women Conference “Invisible boundaries – says Petra Ulmanen. means for women as citizens, not gender and power” in Oslo to talk only for women as private people. about feminism in Sweden in the Media’s pichure of women The way things look in Sweden nineties, where the ”new feminist She points out that there is no today, the debate risks strengthen- wave” started. She was however not political tool, which can be used ing divisions between the private able to come, but talking to News against advertising, the porno and the political sphere instead of from Nikk she says that she is afraid industry and the entertainment showing the connection between that both the tabloid and the media industry speculating in sex, the two, says Petra Ulmanen. anarchist feminists risk getting stuck body and sexuality. That would be in the media’s logic of continually to forgo basic democratic values, Trine Lynggard having to sell more magazine and such as freedom of speech and

5 News from NIKK 2/99 GENDER EQUALITY AND FEMINISM - State feminists have forgotten immigrant women

- Both the feminists of the seven- feminist research has not included feminist researchers in public ties and the state feminists of the ethnicity. institutions to focus on this demo- eighties have a cultural problem. cratic problem. Instead one talks of Today they are themselves inside Part of the system integrating “the strangers” who administrative positions, while - The perspective of change, which have “other cultures and values”. immigrant, refugee and minority lies in feminism, the perspective from Within the discourse on gender women are still on the outside, below, has become invisible. Wom- equality and solidarity lies a barrier says Birte Siim. The Danish en’s liberation has become a part of against integrating “the others”, researcher includes also feminist the system, coupled to the struggle states Birte Siim who feels that the researchers in state institutions in for a more just society based on norm for gender equality easily can this privileged category of state solidarity, says Birte Siim. She sees become the norm for one-sided feminists whom she claims have gender equality as part of the conformity. overlooked the question of ethnic- established political culture, while ity in their gender research. gender equality for minorities is a Women have a lot of power non-issue. She points out that in the At the same time Siim points out In her presentation in the session USA and England the picture is that women today actually have a “Liberal feminism’s borders” at the different. Here there is a long tradi- lot of power in public institutions. Oslo gender research conference tion of linking together women’s There has been empowerment, “Invisible boundaries – gender and rights and the rights of minorities. women sit in positions where they power” in November, Birte Siim from have the power to draft laws, they the Feminist Research Centre in Equality can become conformity are able to wield influence. But this Aalborg talked about citizenship and - Instead, the public debate is about has also created new differences feminism, gender, democracy and a women’s possibilities to wield power between women - and in particular changing welfare state. She was in the welfare state. Gender equality with regard to minorities. Birte extremely critical of the established becomes a niche, detached from Siim’s conclusion is that state state feminists - and here she also other political questions. But for the feminism has lost its base, as well included feminist research workers question of women’s power, it is a as transformational power and in the state institutions - for letting democratic problem that all women radicalism. down the immigrant and minority do not have the same power. It is our groups. According to her, Nordic responsibility as state feminists and Trine Lynggard

New Book on Gender Equality - now in English! How equal are women and men in the Nordic countries? How homogeneous are the Nordic countries? Can we talk about a Nordic Model of Gender Equality? These questions are raised in a new book published by the Nordic Council of Ministers now available in English. The contributors confirm that different Nordic countries including the self-governing islands of the Faeroes, Greenland and Åland have many characteristics in common in this field. But the book reveals that processes of creating gender equality have also differed in many respects. In fact, the differences are greater in quantity and kind than we have been aware of so far. The diversity reflects different cultural, structural and historical conditions, but also different strategies developed by the feminist and gender equality movements in each country.

“Equal Democracies? Gender Politics in the Nordic Countries”. Oslo: Scandinavian University Press, 1999. Ed. Christina Bergquist. ISBN 82 00 12 7990.

6 GENDER EQUALITY AND FEMINISM News from NIKK 2/99 What is gender equality in politics today? A part of the joint Nordic research of gender equality consists of a D. Versions emphasizing men’s project “Nordic Gender Equality” specific view of what is important relations to gender equality. (10) Between Rhetoric and Practice is where gender equality is concerned, Gender equality that will benefit a study of variations in politicians’ often emphasizing a certain part of men. (11) Women are not enough: rhetoric when expressing their daily life, and a certain way of con- the new man helps women become favourable attitudes to gender ceptualizing femininity and masculin- equal. equality, i.e. the different ways ity. The versions are connected, they write about, and argue for, although not in simple ways, to E. Versions emphasizing women’s gender equality. The first part of theoretical divisions of arguments for relations to gender equality. (12) the study, briefly reported here, gender equality in rights, resource, Gender equality is about women’s deals with Swedish politicians. and interest arguments. There are also issues and should therefore be connections, though still not simple women’s responsibility. (13) Gender In institutionalized political life in the ones, to the main lines of the respec- equality is in the interest of women as Nordic countries the concept gender tive political parties. a group, and is therefore in opposition equality1 has a firm standing, and is In order to give some indication to men’s interests as a group. a fairly frequent topic in party- of the rather complicated rhetorical political rhetoric and legislation. patterns in the texts, I list the F. Gender equality’s boundaries at There are several institutions and versions, sorted into five tentative the extreme: in what political and other societal structures geared subgroups, and with short descrip- other areas having to do with towards developing and implement- tive labels: 2 women and/or men is “gender ing gender equality policies. Practi- equality” not actualized? cally all politicians in the Nordic Five versions countries today, regardless of A. Versions emphasizing social Not a common meaning? political affiliation, express them- consensus and gender neutrality. (1) A first impression after scrutinizing selves in favour of gender equality. Gender equality seen as identical to the party documents is that there This political unanimity has been the liberal-humanist ideal of general may not be a common meaning of part of the “Nordic profile” in politics equality. (2) Gender equality that will gender equality in Swedish politics for some time now, while also being benefit everybody, men as well as today. Not surprising, perhaps, but subjected to continuing scrutiny by women. (3) Gender equality seen as worth thinking about when encoun- feminist researchers. This article the ultimate proof of democracy. tering rhetoric concerning gender presents one such study. equality as gender equality, in the B. Versions emphasizing individual- generic sense. A second impression From seven political parties ism. (4) Real gender equality seen as is that some of the coexistent I have studied documents from the basically a question of individual meanings given to gender equality seven parties in the Swedish parlia- attitudes. (5) The gender equality of are theoretically incompatible. Even ment written explicitly to show new generations: personal expres- within the same text, rhetoric aims political party lines on gender equality sion as the ideal, rather than political sometimes seem to override de- politics, such as political party struggle. (6) Gender equality issues mands for logic and stringency. programs, parliamentary bills and seen as family matters that should Finally, it is obvious from the docu- articles in political journals. All texts stay outside of politics. ments studied that distinctions in are contemporary and all argue for arguments having to do with differ- gender equality. In political texts C. Versions emphasizing sex ence/similarity/equality etc., are “gender equality” is sometimes used differences. (7) Gender equality as a seldom as clear-cut in political in ways that give it several meanings question of imparting scientific practice as when made on philo- and make it serve several purposes; knowledge: how to take sex differ- sophical and meta-theoretical levels. also seemingly contradictory ones. ences into account. (8) Women’s This is in one sense so self-evident Since this pattern was also present in perspective: gender equality and as to be almost banal, but still it the documents I had access to, I women’s unique contributions as needs to be taken into account searched for the different versions of women. (9) “If only there were more when studying gender equality gender equality that were implied in men here!” Men’s contributions as practices and rhetoric. The “practi-

these various arguments. A “version” men to gender equality. cal noise” introduced by daily life ▼ 7 News from NIKK 2/99

and practical political positioning is high enough to permit muddiness, contradictions and incompatibilities Women in science, to remain unnamed or passed by, in order to serve rhetorical purposes. why so few? Comparative study A final reflection is in order here, on Governments, industry and whether this approach to gender research funders around the world From the debate.... equality furthers our knowledge about want to increase the numbers of “Each generation of young women, the tension between rhetoric and women in science. The relatively including those who are currently practice in gender equality politics. recent recognition of the economic senior faculty, began by believing Perhaps in a sense it really does; by value of not squandering half of that gender discrimination was helping to map the political and our scientific potential is the «solved» in the previous generation conceptual terrains to show where the modern face of a grass roots and would not touch them. Gradually gender-equality political territory in campaign many decades old. however, their eyes were opened to practice begins and ends. Perhaps it Despite many years of increased the realization that the playing field is may also help in achieving a clearer representation of women amongst not level after all, and that they had vision of the agreements and disa- science graduates, this has, remark- paid a high price both personally and greements about the map, and where ably, failed to translate into their professionally as a result.’ it could be changed. If all the versions presence at senior levels within Mary-Lou Pardu, Professor at the are to be taken into account as academia, science institutions and Massachusetts Institue of Technol- legitimate “gender equality” (and there science policy-making bodies. In the ogy are sure to be more than the ones year 1999 many widely respected here), then politicians and others may scientific institutions around the «At the end of the 20th century want to rethink what “being in favour world find that the percentage of women remain a minority in the of” gender equality means. their female staff remains, stub- scientific disciplines. We have The next step for the Nordic bornly, in single figures. waited for women to trickle up project studying gender equality With growing evidence of both through the system for at least a rhetoric and practice is to carry out a real and unconscious discrimination decade and we seem to be no closer comparative study of gender equality against female researchers, and to equality.» versions involving Denmark, Finland, against a backdrop of increasing Nancy J.Lane, cell biologist at Iceland and Norway. political and even legal activity, Cambridge University and Director Co-workers in the Nordic project Nature launched a web debate on of the University´s new Initiative for of which this study is a part are: Eva the issue that run from 9th of Women in Science, Engineering and Magnusson, psychology, NIKK, Oslo; September to 14th of October 1999. Technology Anne Maria Holli, political science, The debate was led by six Helsinki; Beatrice Halsaa, political senior international figures within “The promotion of women in science science, Oslo/Lillehammer; Dorte the arena of women in science. is of crucial importance for European Marie Søndergaard, psychology, Questions raised by contributors in society as a whole. By «letting Roskilde; Guro Karstensen, linguistics, the first weeks of the debate was: NIKK, Oslo; Harriet Silius, sociology/ women in», the scientific system can women’s studies, Turku; Malin Why are there so few? Is discrimi- only improve and better respond to Rönnblom, political science, Umeå; nation real or imagined? How societal needs.’ Maud Eduards, political science, important is the conflict between Nicole Dewandre, head of ”Women Stockholm. family and a research career? Are in Science´ sector of DGX11 within women-only positions the answer? the European Commission Eva Magnusson In addition to this debate we Head of research, have released a special web- “There are now not enough women NIKK feature bringing together our applicants for professorships or reports and articles on the subject institute director positions, even 1 The expression “gender equality” is an of women in science from the past though enough of them were in the English translation of the terms 2 years onto an open access site; starting positions twenty years ago.’ “jämställdhet” (Swedish), and “likestilling/ http://www.nature.com/cgi-bin/ Sybile Krummacher, scientist at the ligestilling” (Norwegian/Danish), used to wbsp-index.cgi?def=37c03951.def Research Centre Jülich. designate politics and policies to further equal rights between women and men. Natasha Loder, Web Editor, Nature Read the debate at: http:// 2 The report on this study is available Nancy Lane, Moderator, University helix.nature.com/debates/ from NIKK’s web site in both a Swedish of Cambridge and an English version. 8 News from NIKK 2/99 From “down under” to “the top of the world” and in geographical terms, it was felt to be particularly important to cast our net of invitations as widely as possible. Of the thirty-one invited speakers presented in the confer- ence program, twenty-eight were able to make it to Tromsø.

Whereas the sixth Women’s going to be possible to assemble all Activism versus “academic Worlds congress in 1996 took the Women’s Worlds 99 participants quality”? place in Adelaide in Southern in one physical meeting-place at any A major challenge to all the Wom- Australia, Women’s Worlds 99, the one time during the conference en’s Worlds conferences has been Seventh International Interdiscipli- week. Hence it was all-important to how to combine the interests of nary Congress on Women, was set structure the program in a way political activists with the need of on the northernmost university which took this logistic limitation feminist academics for scholarly campus in the world – in Tromsø, into account. merit and intellectual stimulus. Not Norway, from June 20 to 26. With In keeping with these ambitions surprisingly, reactions and views approximately 1600 participants the conference program that was vary on how successful this year’s from almost 80 countries, Wom- constructed was very varied and conference was in this respect. en’s Worlds 99 was a gigantic task very big. The basic program Whereas some complain that there to undertake for the small and structure was made up of thirteen is not enough fighting feminist spirit recently established Centre for program sections: (I) GenDerations; in today’s feminist scholars, others Women’s Studies and Women in (II) New Constructions of Gender; were more worried that the really Research of the University of (III) Women, Power and Politics; (IV) exciting – and important – new Tromsø. However, by most ac- Gendering Work and the Economy; research is in danger of being counts it was a success, academi- (V) Gendering Health; (VI) Sexualized drowned by the political activism cally, culturally as well as socially. Violence; (VII) Gendering the Past; and research of mediocre quality (VIII) Gendering the Future; (IX) that, in their view, seems to follow From early on the congress planning Peace, Indigenous and Human from the latter. The organizing emphasized the “meeting-place” Rights; (X) Culture, Creativity and committee would love to hear from ambition. Although feminist research Spirituality; (XI) Gender, Science and more of you on this issue, which still and interdisciplinary scholarship Technology; (XII) The Women’s seems a very central one to femi- have formed the basis for these Movement/Feminist Activism nists and feminist research! conferences, every Women’s Worlds Worldwide; and (XIII) Gendering congress has also aimed at serving Men. Cross-disciplinary rather than as a meeting-place – for grassroots In addition to the thirteen inter-disciplinary? activists and affirmative action program sections, five “special Based on the reports and reactions officers, for young and old, for focus areas” were formulated: «the that we have so far received, in students as well as for established Nordic experience”, “North-South addition to our own observations academics. A particular ambition to perspectives”, “Young voices”, during the conference week, it us Tromsø organizers was to serve “Celebrating multiculturality and seems fair to conclude that the as a meeting-place for representa- diversity”, “Questioning work”. conference was quite successful in tives from the North – the high Arctic These five focuses were supposed its ambition to serve as a meeting- areas included – and the South, men to serve as cross-disciplinary place for researchers and consum- as well as women, and artists/ guidelines in formulating session ers of research. The “interdiscipli- practitioners as well as theoreti- themes, in the process of selecting narity” aim, which was another key cians. keynotes speakers and in setting the ambition, that is of breaking down Considering that Tromsø has no general conference atmosphere. traditional barriers between disci- congress hall which can house more With the very broad profile chosen plines, was perhaps less successful: than 800 people, it was just not for the conference, both in thematic did we perhaps not go far enough in 9 News from NIKK 2/99

encouraging the crossing of discipli- were not able to fulfill in the way nary borderlines when setting up the that we intended. For one thing, New Co-ordinator for program? We certainly did try to we did not attract as many young when setting up thematic program participants as we had hoped to, Men’s Studies sections like “genDerations” and although it was an important A project-financed position as Nordic “New Constructions of Gender”. criterion in our “solidarity fund” Co-ordinator for Men’s Studies was However, I think it may be argued delegates selection. This has partly established at NIKK for the period that this remains one of the major to do with the expense involved in 1999-2001. Øystein Gullvåg Holter challenges of women’s/feminist travelling to what is to most people who was appointed for it, started his studies and research today. In a a very remote and expensive part work at NIKK in May 1999, but has world which seems to become of the world. But I think it also has now left us. His new e-mail address is increasingly specialized, it is a to do with one of the tendencies of [email protected]. The position was tremendous challenge to create modern academia/conferences. announced again in November, five genuine fusion and not merely Whether this is going to make a men and a woman have applied, and meetings or “touchdowns” between conference like Women’s Worlds the new co-ordinator will be ap- different disciplines or areas of lose its appeal in the years to pointed as soon as possible. At NIKK research. However, attempts were come, will be one of the questions we will do our best to continue and made, and in some cases fascinat- that remains to be answered by the strengthen the important work to ing new processes started, which organizers of coming International further advance Nordic Men’s Studies we hope to hear more about in the Interdisciplinary Congress(es) on and strengthen links between Men’s years to come. Women. Studies and Women’s Studies. This implies also to integrate Men’s Bringing North, South, East and Proceedings are in the making Studies with relevant areas of Nordic West together The organizing committee is now Women’s Studies and Gender For a world conference to be truly working on the Proceedings, Research, as well as contribute to co- that, it needs of course to have among other things trying to find operation in the Nordic countries and speakers and a program that aims at funding for producing a CD-rom the adjacent areas, throughout Europe covering as broad a selection of version. To date we have received and in other parts of the world. A topics and themes as possible. But more than two hundred papers, so growing demand for research-based it also needs delegates from as obviously the process of selecting knowledge and information on men broad a geographical basis as the papers and other material for and masculinity has been the primary possible. Consequently, the organ- inclusion will take some time. But impetus for the establishment of this izing committee at an early stage with a CD-rom format it will be position for the Nordic Co-ordinator formulated an ambition to seek possible to include a lot more of for Men’s Studies. The Nordic coun- financing for a “solidarity fund” the conference material – not only tries have the means to serve as aimed at sponsoring delegates from in the form of papers, but also pioneers in the Men’s Studies field so-called Third World countries and abstracts, the full program, some of and play a key role in promoting and Eastern Europe. We had hoped to the media coverage and so on. By enhancing this area of study and be able to get funding for 150 the summer of 2000 we hope to inquiry on an international scale. delegates, but ended up being able have the Proceedings ready for to sponsor 84. However, even distribution in one form or another. though we thus must be said to have fallen short of our ambition, we Women’s Worlds 2002 – in New information can still say that we were pleased at Uganda! being able to finance this number. Finally we say “Good luck, Advisor at NIKK In general, we can say that Norwe- Uganda!” The responsibility for Trine Lynggard started working at gian sources were on the whole very organizing the next, the 8th Interna- Nikk last August as senior information generous. NORAD, the Norwegian tional Interdisciplinary Congress on advisor and editor of the bulletins development agency, above all, Women, is now on the point of “News from Nikk” and “Nytt fra Nykk”. should be thanked profusely. But being handed over to Makerere Trine Lynggard has more than 20 what we did not manage at all, was University in Kampala, the capital years of experience as journalist attracting international funds (i.e. of Uganda. We hope to see many specialised in international women’s anything beyond Nordic sources). of you there, in three years’ time! issues. She came to NIKK from FOKUS – Forum for Women and “Young voices ambition” Gerd Bjørhovde Development in Norway - where she The ambition to attract young Dr.Philos., Professor of English had worked for ten years as head of people must be said to have been Literature and Convenor of information and editor of the quarterly one of the ambitions that we felt we Women’s Worlds 99 magazine “Kvinner Sammen”. 10 News from NIKK 2/99 Does academic feminism have a political project? A few thoughts in the aftermath of Women’s Worlds 99 in Tromsø Hundreds of women, new impres- for change. This conference was integrated into existing university sions, standing in lines for lunches, after all not for researchers alone; structures? Carmen Lambert gave travelling in buses, crowded meeting there were also sizeable numbers of us one possible reply, when she rooms and a mixture of languages; activists present. Some politicians pronounced: “We have been busy there is much to be said and also participated; among them the being ladies!” thought about big international gender equality ministers from the women’s studies conferences. Nordic countries, who were invited From women to gender Though they are sometimes a bit to a session on Nordic gender Francine Descarries discussed the impersonal and superficial, I still see equality policies. Perhaps it was relation between Anglo-Saxon such conferences as free spaces, particularly in this session I felt the feminist research and “the other” rooms for validation but also for absence of critical perspectives on feminist research and pointed to the criticism. Among my thoughts about the part of the organizers. Having to interpretative prerogatives and the Women’s Worlds 99 in Tromsø, I listen to hours of empty political language hegemony, English. Based have chosen to highlight one issue rhetoric, with no critical questions on her presentation among others, that is constantly present in my asked, almost made me burst. The the next session started a discus- thoughts about feminist research: usual hegemonic picture was sion about the concept “gender”. the relation between research and reproduced: the Nordic countries as The organizers wanted to discuss movement, that is, the political the stronghold of gender equality, the implications of the current project of academic feminism. and they ought now to give their change in terminology, from previ- gender equality resources to the ously women’s studies or feminist “Should we do something?” men… studies, to the currently common As a group of conference partici- gender studies. Many different pants, on the fifth day of the confer- Surviving in patriarchal structures voices were heard in the debate on ence, were sitting down in the bus My overall good impression of the this, but my impression was that that was to take us from Tromsø conference was saved by the last there is a fairly strong critique center to the university campus two conference sessions, where the against the ways the “gender” where the conference was held, a theme was the women’s movement concept is being used. This critique discussion started among us on the in the academy. The mere fact that was well illustrated by a woman theme “shouldn’t we be doing the conference organizers had from Pakistan who described the something? Why aren’t we saying reserved one full session for effects of such changes in terminol- anything; here we are, more than a discussions where all participants ogy on economic development aid: thousand feminists gathered for five had a chance of introducing them- today it is not possible to get days. We ought to be able to make selves and work through issues that support for projects directed some kind of public statement in were evoked by previous sessions, specifically at women. The term common!?” was a liberating experience. The women’s projects has been substi- Now, a few months afterwards, I sessions on academic feminism tuted by gender projects which think that this intense discussion on were held by a group of Canadian means that half of the people the bus came out of frustration over researchers who had worked involved in any project have to be the way the conference week had together over some years. Among men. According to this woman, turned out. Slowly but steadily a them, professor Keith Louse Fulton feminist perspectives are seen as longing for opportunities for longer spoke under the heading “Living confrontational, for instance by the discussions had grown; in rushing strategically as a professor.” The World Bank. They have instead between sessions, lining up for major theme canvassed throughout chosen to adopt a “gender” termi- lunch packets and in the discus- the whole session was the possibil- nology that may work against sions that were terminated because ity for surviving and working as women’s needs when concretized in of time shortage. For me this was feminists in a patriarchal setting. projects. Thus, when researchers also about a wish for a more mani- What does it actually imply that make what seems to be “just” a fest connection between feminist women’s studies and feminist change in terminology, the conse- research and feminist political work research today has very largely been quences in practice may be very 11 News from NIKK 2/99

problematic for women’s daily work for change. NIKK on the Net Academic concepts politicized My main conclusion after that On NIKK’s web site you will find countries focused on gender. discussion was that we have to regularly updated information Included are also the two NIKK keep an eye on what happens when about NIKK’s activities, publica- databases EDITH & EMILJA. our academic, analytical concepts tions and online databases, as well are politicized, and on the fact that as an events calendar, links to AOIFE this process often is very quick, Women’s Studies and Gender the secretariat for the Association of since feminist research in itself is Research web sites, gender Institutions for Feminist Education often seen as a political project. This equality bodies, funding possibili- and Research in Europe is located at of course is not a problem only for ties etc. Below is a short list of the NIKK, as well as the AOIFE web site. what we export to the Third World. content. For instance, in Sweden, though Women’s Studies and Gender there is a close cooperation be- Research Projects Research Addresses & Links tween women politicians and Find out more about the ongoing Here you find contact information for femocrats in the administrations, research projects; Living for Women’s Studies and Gender and feminist researchers, we still Tomorrow, Gender Equality Research in all the five Nordic cannot entirely avoid such “word between Rhetoric and Practice, countries. We have also linked to all abuse.” A recent example comes and Gender, Power and Psychol- Women’s Studies and Gender from the Swedish government ogy. Research institutions and organisa- authority for social security, which tions with web pages in the Nordic has issued a gender program for Online Publishing countries. The links by countries in social welfare, without once men- You can also order paper versions Europe are many and we also have a tioning in their text that a gender of NIKK’s publications and few international links. perspective has something to do subcribe to our free newsletters with power relations between directly from the web site. Nordic/International Calendar women and men. Is there some Information about research related connection here between our work Nordic Virtual Women’s Studies events with focus on gender both as feminist academics who want our and Gender Research Library within and outside the Nordic research to make a difference, and The virtual library contains countries. take our departure in feminist searchable resources to Women’s perspectives in order to also change Studies and Gender Research in Funding Sources the world in which we ourselves are the Nordic countries on the net. A few are specifically related to living, and what happens when “our” Included are Bibliographical Women’s Studies and Gender concepts are disseminated and databases, Databases on areas of Research, whereas most have a used in other contexts – or abused? competence,projects, and institu- general and/or Nordic focus. tions, Archives, Statistics and No politics Gender Equality Information. The New URL - please update links In reply to a direct question about virtual library is a collaborative and bookmarks; why the conference did not have a project between libraries and http://www.nikk.uio.no final plenary where the conference information services in the Nordic participants could have had the chance to consider making a women’s rights to paid work and by now, whether we are acting common statement or resolution, political representation, on which it explicitly politically or not, what we the conference organizers answered should be possible to make com- do does have political implications. that they were not doing politics; mon statements. The midnight sun Not ending the conference with a they were organizing a research Marathon that was arranged during common resolution is just as conference. To my mind that is a the conference could have been a political as making one; our silence strange answer, and definitely not in women’s march against men’s may sanction other political actions, accord with my view of what violence against women, for in- maybe ones that have quite oppo- feminist research is. It is self-evident stance. I cannot see that that would site tendencies. that there may be great difficulties in have been more tastelessly “politi- finding a common line of policy that cal” than allowing five Nordic Malin Rönnblom, all the conference participants could ministers for gender equality to Department of Political Science, agree on, but there are issues such present their political messages Umeå university, Sweden as men’s violence against women, uncontradicted. As we should know 12 News from NIKK 2/99 ”Crashing the top”” ”The Massachusetts Institute of universities. Inevitably, since I began division of Columbia’s English Technology (MIT) is one of the my professional life just as affirma- department. I saw the elite universi- world’s preeminent research univer- tive action went into effect in the ties before they had perfected their sities, dedicated to advancing early 1970s, my career has been a civil rights manners, before they knowledge and educating students series of firsts — I was the first learned how to correct, or camou- in science, technology, and other woman to be offered an assistant flage, their gender assumptions.” areas of scholarship that will best professorship in my department at serve the nation and the world in the Harvard, the first woman to teach in (www.salonmagazine.com) 21st century. It is known for rigorous Princeton’s English department, the printable version of the MITreport: academic programs, cutting-edge first to get tenure in the college http://web.mit.edu/news.html research, a diverse campus commu- nity, and its longstanding commit- ment to working with the public and private sectors to bring new knowl- edge to bear on the world’s great challenges… The Institute is a coeducational, privately endowed WWW-sites of interest university, with more than 900 faculty and 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students.” (from MITs Gender, Sience and Technology (WIGSAT) for the Gender Advisory own presentation). University for Development (GST) Board (http://gab.wigsat.org). Professor Ann Douglas comments A global clearinghouse WWW on the gender policy bias of the site of information, resource and The Women’s International famous University in an article titled recommendations in gender, Electronic University (WIEU) ”Crashing the top” in Salon- science and technology for WIEU offers an alternative for magazine website October 11, 1999: equitable and sustainable women worldwide who cannot ”Women at elite universities may developement was launched at attend traditional universities and have broken the ivory ceiling, but the UNESCO World Congress on colleges. Founded in 1996, WIEU they’re still battling old-fashioned Science in Budapest in June has been contacted by women in discrimination. When MIT posted its 1999. The GST Gateway contains over 60 countries. It offers Internet «Study on the Status of Women policy recommendations, exam- courses in information technology, Faculty in Science» on the Internet ples of case studies and best health promotion and living skills, in March 1999, it made the front practices, key issues and re- academic and professional train- page of the New York Times under search, existing initiatives, and ing, continuing education, and the headline, «M.I.T. Acknowledges limits of resources, including global awareness. Courses can be Bias Against Female Professors.» organisations working in each taught in any language. The web Since then, Nancy Hopkins, the area, publications and internet site is now available in English, professor of biology who chaired the resources. These resources are Spanish, German and Japanese: report, has received an outpouring useful to policy makers interested http://www.wvu.edu/-womensu of e-mails, faxes and phone calls in increasing national and regional from female academics, confirming capacity-building, human re- Feminist Theory Web-site her contention that gender discrimi- sources development, improving The site has been fully updated nation is still commonplace in top- the health status of populations, and expanded to include over 5000 flight universities at every level of and expanding the economic bibliographic references, nearly institutional life. As a longterm base of their countries in an 600 internet links, material on veteran of elite higher education enviornmentally sustainable feminism in 130 different countries, myself, I needed no persuading. I, manner. It is found at: http:// and indepth profiles of 80 interna- too, have spent years, as Hopkins gstgateway.wigsat.org tionally-known feminists. You can put it, «chronically recovering from The site was conceived and access this site at: the battle of yesterday or preparing developed by Women in Global http://www.cddc.vt.edu./feminism/ for the one tomorrow. Like Hopkins, Science and Technology I was part of the first generation of women to teach in the top-level 13 News from NIKK 2/99 Building Gender Awareness in Croatia

The Center for Education and Counselling of Women (CESI) is a local women’s NGO established March 8, 1997 in response to problems of the violation of human rights, in particular minority and wom- en’s rights, nationalism, militarisation and the deterio- ration of economic standards in the post-war period.

spirit of equality which resulted in equal education and employment possibilities for women, as well as equal wages. What came out of this was emancipation based on women’s economic independence. Children’s social welfare was developed simultaneously, being a precondition for employment of women. Due to the war, the process of transition and right-wing ruling party, the status of women has deteriorated in economic, social and political spheres.

Traditional values Photo: Jill Lewis The rising influence of the Catholic Sanja Cesar, the director of CESI, in full action during the 3 day workshop on church, as well as the promotion of gender awareness, here with participant Damir Skrjanec. a traditional patriarchal society The Building Gender Awareness programme, developed by CESI, aims to model by the state, have both had a promote values of tolerance, gender equality among young women and impact on the public perception of men. Through this programme CESI also seeks to empower girls and reproductive rights and freedom. young women to become involved in their communities, to assist Young women have become very women in developing awareness of women’s health and social issues. confused by the imposed new CESI has established contact with NIKK and is now involved in cross- conservatism that calls for exclu- cultural research project about young people and attitudes to sexuality. sion of women from the public. Those who are ambitious and wish The process of transition in Croatia country resulted in reduced concern to be in equivalent partnership with with its ideological breakdowns, war for the status of women in the men face many difficulties and thus devastation and sufferings, as well society. During the previous political require support and help. as the post-war rebuilding of the order, women were brought up in the 14 News from NIKK 2/99

Collapse of the Health care system and methods, on Gender Awareness Sexuality”. CESI will conduct Croatia is now facing collapse of the and Sexual Health for CESI volun- research in Croatia on the basis of a Health care system. The percentage teers and members of youth groups questionnaire developed by NIKK´s of the state budget allocated to from whole Croatia. Jill won the Living for Tomorrow project. The health care was drastically reduced admiration of CESI staff and train- issues that the questionnaire focus on account of the financial demands ees for her ability to motivate others on are: perceptions of gender of the war and a more expensive and stimulate them to achieve difference and equality; beliefs about state administration. One of the solutions and show empathy to gender differences and sexual consequences of this collapse is a those around her. Her knowledge, behaviour; expectations about lack of sexual education which energy and substantial experience agency; gendered sexual scripts and results in incomplete understanding has been stimulating and encourag- normative sexual risk behaviours. of one’s sexual behaviour and poor ing for all participants and very soon The networking preparations understanding of different sexuality we started with planning and have so far included people working issues. What this means for young implementation of gender sensitivity within the fields of sexual health, people is exposure to risks of sexual programs for youth. education and gender studies in behaviour such as sexually transmit- Through NIKK we are now Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Estonia, ted diseases and unwanted preg- involved in a cross-cultural research Lithuania, Russia, England and nancies, unrealistic expectations project aimed at exploring compara- Croatia. and distorted views of their own tive responses from young people sexuality, and in particular high risk on “Attitudes to Men, Women and Sanja Cesar, Director of CESI of succumbing to sexual exploita- tion. The issue of women’s adoles- cent sexuality is often taboo. This Announcing a cross-disciplinary Nordic research course: topic has not only been neglected by girls’ families and school sur- roundings, but by society as a Method, Power and Ethics whole. Thus, the number of counsel- ling centres dealing with family planning has been reduced, and in Qualitative Research: institutionalised education greatly neglects health education, sexual feminist perspectives on the research process education in particular. Considering these conditions, The course is organized by NIKK, all phases of these processes, such urgent development of new and Nordic Institute for Women’s as writing a research plan, selecting more appropriate programs and Studies and Gender Research, and participants, establishing a working methods is of utmost importance for will take place on August 21-26 research relationship, collecting the whole society. 2000, at Lysebu, a conference hotel material and analyzing it, and just outside of Oslo. reporting the results. The main Linking with NIKK Teachers will be Eva emphasis is on methodological and Forming teams of trainers in gender Magnusson, NIKK; Erica Burman, ethical concerns in the interaction sensitivity was CESI’s first goal. Manchester Metropolitan University, between researcher and participant Their task is to educate young England; Hanne Haavind, University and in the data analysis, but the people and raise awareness of of Oslo; and Karin Widerberg, steps before and after will also be gender issues, and to change young University of Oslo. dealt with. people’s patriarchal attitudes and The fact that some kind of The teachers share a view of behaviour to sex roles. Exploring exchange and power relations are ”method” in research as more than a different aspects of gender develop- active in any interaction between set of techniques for handling ment, gender identities, sexuality, researcher and participant, seems research participants or research gender and power is important in to be agreed on by most research- data. ”Method” is conceptualized as youth development and their active ers today. Opinions on what this an integrated field where ethical participation in the world of adults. actually ”does” and what attitude to issues as well as a project’s theoreti- We read about Living for Tomorrow take towards issues of power, vary cal starting point need to be taken on its webpage and established greatly between researchers, into consideration. Techniques for contact with Jill Lewis from The depending on the epistemological data collection and analysis need to Nordic Institute for Women’s Studies stance. This course applies critical be developed in the light of the and Gender Research. We invited Jill feminist perspectives to the re- ethical and power concerns in each to hold a 3 day workshop based on search processes in qualitative project. the NIKK Living for Tomorrow issues research. Attention will be given to 15 News from NIKK 2/99

Issues of method, ethics and power will be seen in relation to “Women and democracy”: the discussion among feminist researchers about the research- High level networking er’s possibilities of, and right to, represent ”others”, above all groups that are socially situated in Reykjavik at a distance from the re- searcher. Awareness of power More than 300 participants from Vilnius in Lithuania. The ten themes relations in the research process the Nordic countries, the Baltic adressed in the workshops were: brings to the fore the importance Region and Russia gathered in learning skills, leadership skills, of ethical concerns and stresses Reykjavik, Iceland from 8 -10 networking and mentoring, partici- the moral responsibility of the October to agree on concrete pating in public life, energising researcher, but also the limita- measures to strengthen democ- entrepreneurship, creating a quality tions to her latitude of move- racy and women’s rights at the workplace for all, increasing NGO ment. In this connection reflexiv- dawn of the new millennium. effectiveness, promoting equality ity will be emphasized as a through legislation and practice, necessary stance for researchers This conference was a joint initiative mastering information technology undertaking qualitative research, by the Government of Iceland and the and media and the changing roles of and special use will be made of US/Vital Voices Global Initiative women and men, cultural chal- techniques for reflexivity devel- headed by the First lady of the United lenges. oped among feminist research- States, Hillary Rodham Clinton, who Among the most outstanding ers. revealed a strong commitment to results of the conference was the Teaching and work on data women’s rights in her closing address US Government contribution of one analysis during the course will be to the conference. million US dollars to women’s done partly by using material The Nordic Council of Ministers projects in Russia and the contribu- that the teachers bring, and was co-sponsor for the Conference, tion of one million Euro from the partly material brought by the and the Ministers for Equality and Nordic Investment Bank to micro- participants. This work will take other high ranking officials in the credit schemes for small entrepre- place in seminar form in small Nordic countries and the other neurs in the Baltic States. There is groups. participating countries were actively so far no overview of the whole The course is primarily involved as key note speakers and range of projects that came out of directed towards postgraduate chairs of the ten workshops. The the Conference. But some of them students working with some kind aim of the conference was to will be integrated into the pro- of feminist perspective on their strengthen women’s participation in gramme of co-operation between research, who are using inter- political and economic life and to the Nordic Council of Ministers, the views or participant observation develop co-operation between the Baltic States and Northwest Russia. for their collection of data. The established democracies in the These are projects concerning course is cross-disciplinary, and Nordic region and the new democra- legislation in the field of equality and a broad spectrum of participants cies in the East as well as between mechanisms for implementing laws will be welcome. different sectors in society. Among as well as measures to fight violence For information and details the specially invited participants against women. Norway will host a about applications, course were representatives of academia, conference on trafficking in women layout, teaching, and examina- NGOs and governmental institutions focusing on economic and social tion, please contact Eva on the national and regional levels structures that promote prostitution Magnusson or Guro Karstensen as well as representatives from the and sexual exploitation in the OSCE at NIKK. industrial and business sectors. region. This was agreed in a joint statement between the Norwegian Practical plans of actions Prime Minister Bondevik and the The discussions in the ten work- United States President Clinton shops had a clear purpose: to when he recently visited Norway, propose practical plans of action obviously with a clear directive from within each workshop theme, Hillary Clinton. including finance. The projects The Lithuanian gouvernment is agreed on shall be put into practice hosting a follow-up conference in and developed over a period of one 2001 with assistance from Finland. and a half years and summed up in a new conference to be held in Trine Lynggard 16 News from NIKK 2/99

NEWS NEWS

The AOIFE network is now in its throughout Europe interested in fourth year, and the association has General Assembly Women’s/Gender/Feminist Studies grown from its developing stage to Prior to the conference AOIFE will and Feminism. Apart from a discus- become a well functioning organisa- have its general assembly where the sion list that helps members of the tion in full action with many activities new AOIFE council will be elected. network inform and exchange on the agenda for the year to come. AOIFE has so far been active and information with each other, the Among the most prestigious of them successful in lobbying for gender in network is also engaged in a study is the fourth European Feminist the fifth framework research pro- trying to investigate the kinds of Research Conference in Bologna in gramme in the EU and facilitated the attitudes and goals young women in early autumn 2000. The conference establishment of the dynamic Europe have in regard to job opportu- which is called ‘Body, gender, thematic network ATHENA. nities and career paths, having been subjectivity - Crossing disciplinary engaged in Gender/Women’s Studies. and Institutional Borders’ will be Next GENDERation is also hosting held in Bologna, Italy from Septem- EU projects a one day seminar in connection with ber 28 - October 1, 2000. Concerning EU projects within AOIFE the 4th European Feminist Research we presently are active in two main Conference. It will try to address some applications for exchange networks. of the dilemmas the next Bologna 2000 One exchange network with the GENDERation of feminists face with The conference is co-ordinated by United States under the Trans Atlantic another history and an other social AOIFE in co-operation with Biblioteca programme and one network with context. Programmes for this one day del Centro di Documnetazione delle South America under the ALFA seminar will be available in the new Donne in Bologna (The feminist library project. year. and documentation centre in Bologna) Under the AOIFE umbrella there and the ATHENA thematic network. are also planned several research The conference is a high level scien- projects that will seek funding from ATHENA Thematic tific conference following the third the EU under the fifth framework. The network a continuing European Feminist Research Confer- applications will be made this spring. ence in Coimbra, 1997. success Alongside keynote speakers Next GENDERation The ATHENA thematic network is talking on Body, Gender and Subjec- functioning well. There will appear tivity there will be a range of workshop Another spin-off of AOIFE is the Next published a joint publication for all the sessions which in a cross disciplinary GENDERation network, which was ATHENA panels by the end of 99. way will monitor the diversity and the formed in Sweden in 1998. A group of ATHENA has got funding from newest movements within European young feminists recognised the need the EU to run for its second year, to feminist research. for greater dialogue and co-operation the amount of 104.000 Euro. This is The conference is funded by the among young women and men an increase of funds since last year. EU DG XII grant for high scientific conferences. The EU evaluation of the project was very good (87 points of 100). A special emphasis will be on the next generation of feminist research- ers. Every workshop will be co- ordinated by a junior as well as a senior researcher. The Keynote speakers will be responded to by junior researchers. This insures that the conference not only crosses disciplinary and institutional borders Next GENDERation meet in Leeds November 99 - 10 different nations across but also gaps between generations. Europe participated in the meeting. Projects for year 2000 was discussed. 17 News from NIKK 2/99

Setting things in motion: the Living for Tomorrow cross-country meeting

and differences in the various national data will hopefully raise interesting questions about sedi- mentation of gender traditions in changing societies as well as about ‘globalising’ of sexual risk behav- iours though common media references. An initial piloting of the questionnaire in the Isle of Wight in the South of England has provoca- tively indicated great similarities between attitudes to the gendering of sexual behaviours between the group of English teenagers and the Russian and Estonian young people in Tallinn.

Drawing on the Estonian Some of the participants in the cross country meeting in deep concentration experience The newly established Living for Support from the Nordic Research sexual health promoters made it Tomorrow NGO in Tallinn will take up Co-operation Fund enabled NIKK easier to explore some of the the questionnaire results using to organise a three-day explora- complexities of the project and the interactive teaching methods to tory meeting in Tallinn, this No- considerations the study must take engage young people in discussing vember, with participants from into account in its strategy and gender beliefs and norms of hetero- eight Nordic, Baltic and European design. The collaboration of re- sexual behaviour that increase risk countries to discuss a question- searchers and sexual health promot- of transmission of HIV/AIDS and naire exploring young people’s ers is to ensure that findings from other STD’s in Estonian culture attitudes to gender and sexual the study will be taken into action. today. behaviour. Holding the meeting in Estonia Living for Tomorrow gave us the chance to draw on the The aim is to collect new national – a growing project Estonian experience of the data data raising awareness of how The collaboration between the eight collection and emerging indications gender beliefs influence sexual countries is aiming to strengthen from the findings. Swedish, Norwe- behaviour, that could usefully inform dialogue and cooperation regionally gian and English experiences in national sexual safety education as and take the Living for Tomorrow test-piloting the questionnaire gave well as allowing cross-cultural interrogation of gender issues into valuable perspectives on processes comparisons of findings to stimulate wider discussion, linking them involved and issues of comparison wider regional debates. immediately with participatory, raised. The seminar looked at the Those invited to the meeting interactive ways of working that questionnaire within the Living for were people in both research and in encourage active youth participation Tomorrow priorities and frame of active safer sex education practices, and mobilisation on sexual health gender research, before running participants coming from Norway, issues. The intent is to set in motion interactive workshops based on the Sweden, Denmark, Estonia, Lithua- discussion of aspects of sexual three sections of the questionnaire nia, Russia (St. Petersburg and health prevention and prevailing itself: wider beliefs and perceptions

Kaliningrad), Croatia and England. gender beliefs that are not often of expectations concerning gender; ▲ This combination of researchers and explored together. The similarities beliefs about how sexual behaviours 18 News from NIKK 2/99

Nordic Research Program on The Nordic Gender and Violence In previous issues of News from NIKK and Nytt fra NIKK we an- Association nounced the coming of a joint Nordic research program on gender and violence, supported by the Nordic Council of Ministers. This for Women’s Studies program is now fast becoming a reality. For year 2000, 3.5 million Danish crowns have been reserved, followed by equal grants for the and Gender Research next four years. A program committee is in process of being named, The Nordic Association for and is probably in place when this is published. The administration of Women’s Studies and Gender the program will be located at a research institute, which will be Research is an independent selected during this same period. The committee hopes to be able to and autonomous non-profit announce their first call for grant applications by March 2000, and organisation (NGO) founded in some activities in the program will hopefully be started before the 1994. summer of 2000. Information about the program is available at NIKK, and at the The Assosiation has three Nordic Council of Ministers. main aims: • Publish the journal NORA: Nordic Journal of Wom- en’s Studies. and expectations are gendered; and committed themselves to develop- • Organize scholary confer- how risk behaviours and actual ing the project further and seeking ences for feminist re- experiences of sexual relations funding next Spring to support its searchers in the Nordic illustrate the gender issues haunting co-ordinated implementation. countries. sexual safety. • Cooperate with other Future movements organisations and institu- Cross-cultural dilemmas In February, The Norwegian Aids tions involved in feminist Discussions explored how wording Association (PLUSS - LMA) will host research and Women’s of different questions and translation participants from the eight countries Studies. of terms needed to be considered in to collaborative training and discus- relation to the social acceptance sions in Oslo. In the program a one- Membership is open to and framing of the subject. In some day seminar on ‘understanding private individuals as well as countries it is more difficult to gender’ at NIKK is also planed. In institutions and organizations discuss sex at all, while in others it relation to this, researchers from with a commitment to or is totally accepted to use the youth Norway, Sweden, Croatia, Estonia interest in Women’s Studies cultures’, at times ‘popularised’, and St. Petersburg will present and Gender Research. language to connect with the young aspects of their gender-focussed in education about sexual health. work. As well discussing the further National differences had to be processing of the questionnaire, the turned and tossed, and differences meeting it is also meant as a way of in language use, social acceptance creating a context for Norwegian of sexual explicitness, parents’ roles youth-focused NGO’s and other and expectations were debated. researchers and sexual health These aspects are important to promoters to explore how to include clarify if the project is to succeed in the problems of gender and ‘critical generating useful information about literacy’ about gender and sex in the symptomatic gender concerns sexual health education. Meanwhile haunting preventive sexual health in the whole group is working to refine all countries. Care in establishing the questionnaire in national focus common ground and delineating group discussions to prepare new well-co-ordinated strategies and funding joint applications for next methods is crucial for the research Spring. to have cross-cultural significance. Participants from seven countries Jill Lewis and Elisabeth Lorenzen 19 News from NIKK 2/99

News from the Nordic Region

This is a period of turbulent transition for Language and Culture, St. Network-seminars and transformation, struggling with Petersburg, by NorFA, Nordic Acad- feminization of poverty, simultaneous emy for Advanced Study. The part- in Arkangelsk: re-traditionalization and de time position in runs from Autumn traditionalization of gender relations, 1999 till Spring 2002, and is intended Crisis centres most often without support from to assist Nevsky Institute in its future In November a seminar on gender strong and openly feminist move- programme for post graduate studies politics and crisis centres took place ments and organisations. Within this and in etablishing a unit for Women’s at Pomor University, Arkhangelsk. This context, challenges for comparative Studies, both in local and international was the first seminar as a result of the and cross-cultural investigations are co-operation. newly established network to connect evident. Nordic and NW. Russian researchers More specific themes included a at ten universities and research presentation of feminist group work Norway institutions. model and discussion on prostitution, New Master Degree in Gender The aim of the network is to build sexism as a symbolic violence in & Development up a vivid scientific community for the schools, anti-violent pedagogy and The Master of Philosophy programme NCRB - the Nordic-NW.Russian sex education intervention. Also in Gender and Development is a development and research project - problems in investigating domestic higher degree offered by the Faculty around crisis centres for women in the violence in Russia as well as recent of Arts at the University of Bergen. Barents region and the School of struggles for law reforms were on the The Centre for Women’s and Gender Politics Aleksandra Kollontai. The workshop agenda. A visit was paid to Studies co-ordinates the teaching seminar was held in conjunction with two newly established local centres, programme, which is run in collabora- a conference on Social work in one being part of the local administra- tion with relevant research centres changing cultures and societies, tion, one part of the university. and departments. The chief aim of initialized within a long-term co- this interdisciplinary programme is to operation between the Bodø Regional enable students to understand the University, Norway, and the Pomor Gender politics significance of gender within develop- University. Another network seminar to discuss ment issues, and to use gender as an The ten unviersities and research gender politics, women´s movements analytical category within their centres in the network are: Kola and women´s political representation, research. Applicants must normally Science Centre, Pomor University, both in the past, today and in the have completed a 3-year First Degree Petrozavodsk University, St. future political orders, is planned to be (Bachelor’s Degree) or its equivalent, Petersburg University, European held at St. Petersburg May 25-28 including a concentration of course University and Nevsky Institute at St. 2000. The local organizer will be the work corresponding to 1-years’ full- Petersburg, and Bodø, Umeå, Lapland Nevsky Institute, in co-operation with time study in a field or subject of and Oulu Universities in northernmost the St. Petersburg State University specialisation relevant to gender and/ Norway, Sweden and Finland. The and the European University. The or development issues. If you are network is funded by the Nordic national election in Russia in Decem- interested in obtaining an application Council of Ministers from Autumn ber 1999 will, without doubt, provide form and more information about this 1999 till Spring 2001. material for analyzing strategies programme of study, please write a Twenty papers by Russian, especially within and in relation to the statement of interest including your Finnish, Swedish, Norwegian women formal political institutions. previous education and a short essay researchers and by scholars from UK The co-ordinators and contact on your ideas about gender and and US were presented at the seminar persons for the network are Aino development to the Programme Co- in Arkangelskaa. The framework for Saarinen, Oulu University ordinator: Kjell R. Soleim, Centre for the discussions was drawn by ([email protected]) and Elena Women’s and Gender Research, analyzing multiple models for crisis Kudriashova, Pomor University P.O.Box 7800, centres with differing history and ([email protected]). N-5020 Bergen, Norway. present day preconditions and Application deadline: 1 February practices. The debates strived for Aino Saarinen appointed as 2000. problematizing a transfere of institu- Nordic Visiting Professor tions rooted in Western autonomous Aino Saarinen, former Head of Gender and Cultural Change women´s movements in the mid- Research at NIKK, has been ap- CT, Gender and Cultural Change is a 1970s into the post-socialist and pointed as Nordic Visiting Professor in new course at NTNU (The Norwe- Russian regions since the mid-1990s. Women’s Studies at Nevsky Institute gian University of Science and 20 News from NIKK 2/99

News from the Nordic Region

Technology) for undergraduate determine whether a student goes on single men in Norrland in the north of students from the faculties of Arts, to do post-graduate research, but that Sweden and their contact with women Social Sciences and Computer gender is more decisive, especially for in Russia. The second area focuses on Science. The course teaches women with a non-academic back- the symbolic dimensions of hetero- theories of technology related to ground. Many students feel that there sexuality. The Swedish model industry social and cultural change, focusing is informal contact between students and Swedish dramatic art in the 20th particularly on information technol- and researchers, something that century will be studied. The way ogy, Internet, and gender relations. makes it easier for certain students to heteronormative behaviour and There is a user perspective on continue with a research career. This assumptions are rejected is the theme technology. How do people commu- encouragement is felt more strongly of the third area. In this case, the nicate with computers and with by men than by women. Women who study will focus on consumption other people via computers? What are deterred from making a commit- patterns among homosexual men and do new ways of communicating ment to research quote obstacles women in Sydney, Australia, funeral mean for conceptions of self and linked to their own personalities, rituals for homosexual men in Sweden identity, and for social relationships? saying that they do not have enough who have died of AIDS and Brazilian How are differences conceptualised self-confidence or are not sufficiently transvestite prostitutes in Milan in Italy. between ‘screen life’ and ‘real life’, intelligent. Male students who are The post-graduate students who are and between ‘screen relationships’ deterred give reasons that are not involved in this research project are and ‘real life relationships’? Centre associated with their personalities, social anthropologists Fanny for Feminist and Gender Research, such as the shortcomings within Ambjörnsson, Ann Frisell-Ellburg and Department of Interdisciplinary research when it comes to funding, for Lissa Nordin, together with ethnologist Studies of Culture is responsible for example. One suggestion for improve- Ingeborg Svensson. the course. For further information, ment put forward by the study is that contact [email protected] acceptance for research education Lena Olson should be governed by formal criteria Swedish Secretariat for Gender Margrét Helgadóttir Næss, of which everyone at a faculty or Research KILDEN - Norwegian information and department is aware. The study also documentation centre for women’s stresses that it is important for female studies and gender research students to benefit from the informal Denmark contact between students and Centre for European Cultural researchers. Studies Sweden In April this year Cekvina, Centre for Post-graduate studies and gender Research project based Gender Research, at the University of Male scientists feel most motivated to on queer theory Århus, was united with Centre for apply for post-graduate research The first major research project in European Studies. The name of the education, while female humanists Sweden based on queer theory is new centre is Centre for European and social scientists are least moti- about to get under way in Stockholm. Cultural Studies. The new subjects vated. These are the findings of a This is an interdisciplinary project and that will be taught are European study conducted at the Faculties of the aim is to study how heterosexual- Studies, Gender, Communication and Natural science, Health care science ity functions as a normative, structur- Culture, Scandinavian Studies and and Philosophy at Linköping Univer- ing principle. Three researchers and European Studies. Head of the Center sity. The questionnaire and interview four post-graduate students are is assosiated professor Uffe study “Students, post-graduate involved in this project, which is being Østergaard. Kirsten Gomard is head education and gender” was commis- supported by the Bank of Sweden of the department for gender re- sioned by the vice-chancellor, the Jubilee Fund. The research project, search. This part of the center faculties and Centre for Women’s which comprises seven sub-projects continues as before and will develope Studies in Linköping, and is the divided between three areas, will be around issues related to cultural work of Cecilia Åsberg. It analyses led by social anthropologist Don studies, a wide, interdiciplinary field, why so few female students go on to Kulick, theatre and gender scientist which includes gendered perspectives do post-graduate research, in spite of Tiina Rosenberg and social anthro- as an integrated part. The magazine the fact that half the students gradu- pologist Mark Graham. The first area CekvinaNYT will still be published as a ating from Linköping University are deals with the way heterosexuality is magazine for gender research, though women. perceived and experienced. Girls at it’s name will be changed. The study establishes that both sixth-form college in a Stockholm E-mail: [email protected] gender and social background help to suburb will be studied, together with 21 News from NIKK 2/99 Preparations for Beijing+5 In September 1995, more than 180 tices and other examples of suc- Action. This website can be used for governments signed the Beijing cessful, government and civil communication to collaboratively Platform for Action at the Fourth society efforts; obstacles that prepare and strategize for reviewing World Conference on Women. Five remain and how they can be the results of agreements made in years later, a special session of the overcome and what still needs to be the Beijing Platform for Action. United Nations General Assembly done. The working group topics European WomenAction 2000 is will review progress achieved and follow the 12 critical areas of a project of the IIAV, the Inter- obstacles encountered and concern from the Beijing Platform of national Information Centre and whether governments, interna- Action. The discussion and weekly Archives for the Women’s Move- tional organisations, non-govern- summaries are available from the ment, which is based in Amsterdam, mental organisations, and the WomenWatch website: http:// the Netherlands, in co-operation private sector have fulfilled the www.un.org/womanwatch/ with Karat Coalition, a network of commitments made at the Fourth women’s NGOs in Eastern and World Conference on Women in European Conference in January Central Europe, The European Beijing. The ECE Regional preparatory Women’s Lobby, Les Pénélopes, US meeting on the 2000 review of the Women Connect, FAFIA, CDEACF. Informally called Beijing +5, the Beijing Platform for action will take Website: http://www.iiav.nl/ review’s official title is ‘Women 2000: place in Geneva from 19. – 21. european-womenaction-2000/ Gender Equality, Development and January 2000 (comprising Europe, Peace for the twenty-first Century’. North America and Central Asia). Trine Lynggard The UN is holding a series of Substansive items of the ECE- meetings to prepare for this. The UN meeting are: Women and economy: Commission on the Status of women’s access to employment as Women acting as Preparatory a major component of economic Committee for the Special Session and social rights of women. This Gender research invited governments that had not yet would include equal employment done so to prepare national action opportunities and equal treatment, plans. As of 15 November, 116 the situation of women migrant in the media governments and two observer workers, social measures for NIKK has taken the initiate to create a states had prepared such plans and compatibility between training/ Nordic co-operation on gender submitted them to the UN Division science and technology. Further- research and mediacoverage. The for the Advancement of Women. more women’s income across a background for this initiative is a As of 18 November 1999, 124 lifetime, including issues of concern growing media attention on gender member states and two observer to ageing women. Another major issues as well as a renewed focus on states had responded to the Secre- subject for the ECE regional confer- feminism in several of the Nordic tary-General’s questionnaire on the ence is women and violence and countries The idea is to contribute to a implementation of the Platform for trafficking in women, violence more differenciated and improved Action. against women and girls in war/ mediacoverage and discussion of conflict situations. Gender gender issues by way of creating Global Discussion Forum mainstreaming is a key issue that contacts and dialogs between From September to 17 December, will be addressed in a cross- journalists and researchers, as well as WomenWatch, the UN website on sectorial manner. organising workshops and seminars women’s issues, is holding The For matters relating to NGO and trainingcourses for both groups. Beijing +5 Global Forum, a series of accreditation, contact: Information- and documentation Internet Working Groups to provide [email protected] centres on women- and gender input into the UN review. The input research in Norway, Sweden and will feed directly into the General European website Denmark, as well as the national co- Assembly’s assessment of progress European WomenAction 2000 is ordinators in the Nordic countries, and the recommendations that it part of the Global WomenAction have agreed to take part in this co- makes for further action. The 2000 information and communica- operation. In the spring 2000 NIKK will Working Groups are discussing: tions platform which empowers organise a Nordic workshop where policies, legislation, strategies and NGOs to participate in global also committed journalists and partnerships that have been suc- strategies to enhance the position researches from the Nordic countries cessful in furthering women’s of women, starting with the review will be invited to come and share equality, case studies; best prac- process of the Beijing Platform for experiences and ideas. 22 News from NIKK 2/99

News on men´s studies

other European countries, both within Ordering information for The European “Problem of and outside the EU. Journal of Men’s Studies (Volume 8, The overall aim of the Research 1999-2000): Men’s Studies Press, men” research Network is to develop empirical, PO Box 32, Harriman, TN 37748 or A new European research program, theoretical and policy outcomes on order on the web site at “The social problem of men and the gendering of men and www.mensstudies.com. societal problematisation of men and masculinities. Initially, the Research masculinities” and a network called Network focuses on two closely A preliminary Nordic region The European Research Network On related gendered questions: first, the studies of men index Men in Europe may receive EU specific, gendered social problem of This is a preliminary presentation from support and get started in 2000 for a men and certain masculinities; and, a mapping of Nordic region men’s period of three years. The project is second, the more general, gendered studies done by Per Folkesson [trans. launched by a cooperation group societal problematisation of men (and from Swedish and statistics adaption which includes professors Jeff Hearn, certain masculinities).» by the IASOM Newsletter]. One Keith Pringle, Ursula Müller and (from: IASOM Newsletter6,3,Nov.99) concrete result of the mapping is an Elzbieta Oleksy. Here are excerpts address list of researchers and from the proposal. Special issus on masculinity research students with connections to «The Research Network com- Several gender journals have the men’s studies area. At this date prises women and men researchers recently appeared with special [September 1999] the list consists of who are researching on men and issues on masculinity. One example 232 people, and of these, 101 (44%) masculinities in an explicitly gendered is the Journal of Interdisciplinary are women. way. The bringing together of both Gender Studies (vol 2, 2, Dec. 1998) women and men researchers is on «Australian masculinitie», with Country Number Percent men extremely important, necessary and papers on “protest masculinity” Denmark 22 82 timely in the development of good (Scott Poynting et.al.), sexual Finland 54 76 quality European research on men in politics and homophobia as an Iceland 7 86 Europe. Research on men that draws element of patriarchy (Gary Norway 26 58 only on the work of men is likely to Dowsett), military culture (Katerina Sweden 123 41 neglect the very important research Agostino) and others. Also, more Total 232 56 contribution that has been and is non-English journals like the Danish being made by women to research on Kvinder, køn & forskning (3, 1999, In summary one may say that there men. (..) Gender-collaborative re- with abstracts and some papers in has been and is currently consider- search is necessary in the pursuit of English) have recently had, or are able research within the area in the gender equality, in the combating of planning, special issues in the field. Nordic region. The Danish research, gender discrimination, and in the Men and Masculinities was fairly visible in the 70s, is today less achievement of equality and in the launched to publish high-quality, well represented. The small but still fight against discrimination more interdisciplinary research in the existing research on men on Iceland generally (Social Action Programme emerging field of men and mascu- is growing. The Finnish men’s 1998-2000). linities studies. Men and Masculini- studies which is comparable to the The Research Network brings ties presents peer-reviewed empiri- Norwegian and Swedish has been together women and men researchers cal and theoretical scholarship marginalized in the Nordic context from a number of European countries grounded in the most current due to the language barrier. (initially Estonia, Finland, Germany, theoretical perspectives within The family and fathering / father- Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Norway, Poland, gender studies, including feminism, hood appears to be a strong research Russian Federation, the UK) with a queer theory and multiculturalism. area with representation from the research focus on the comparative Using diverse methodologies, Men whole Nordic region for a long time, study of the social problem and and Masculinities’ articles explore especially fatherhood. Sexuality is societal problematisation of men and the evolving roles and perceptions another area with anchorage in most masculinities. The Research Network of men across society. of the Nordic countries. Questions will also act as an information re- For further journal details, visit about working life and men’s work is a source for other researchers and the SAGE web site at http:// third. policy-makers. In the medium and www.sagepub.co.uk/journals/ longer term, it is planned that the Details/j0244.html (IASOM Newsletter 6,3, Nov.-99, for Network will include researchers from subscribtion: [email protected]) 23 News from NIKK 2/99 New publications Bryld, Mette & Nina Lykke: Muijlwijk, Margreet van: Funding and Styrkársdóttir, Audur: From feminism to Cosmodophins: Feminist Cultural Private Resources for Women and class politics: The rise and decline of Studies of Technology, Animals and the Gender Studies. Utrecht: WISE, 1999. women’s politics in Reykjavík, 1908- Sacred. London: Zed books, forthcom- 1922. Umeå: Umeå universitet, 1998. Rosenholm, Arja: Gendering Awakening. ing February 2000. Femininity and the Russian Woman Valaskivi, Katja: Relations of Television. Ellingsæter, Anne Lise: Gender Question of the 1860s. Helsinki: Genre and Gender in the Production, Mainstreaming and Employment Policy: Aleksanteri-instituutti, 1999. Diss. Reception and Text of a Japanese Family Norway Report. Oslo: Institute for Social Drama. Tampere: University of Tampere, Rubery, Jill, Mark Smith & Colette Fagan: Research, 1999. 1999. Diss. Women’s Employment in Europe: trends Fasting, Kari et al. The Experience and and prospects. London: Routledge, Widding Hedin, Lena: Woman abuse meaning of sport and exercise in the 1999. during pregnancy: a prevalence study of lives of women in some European psychological and physical abuse among Rydstrøm, Helle: Embodying Morality: countries. Oslo: Norges idrettshøgskole, Swedish women. Göteborg: Univ, 1999. Girls’ Socialization in a North Vietnamese 1999. Diss. Commune. Linköping University, 1998. Fatal women: essays on film noir and Diss. Wikander, Ulla: Von der Magd zur related matters/ed. Kjell R. Soleim. Angestellten: Macht, Geschlecht und Salminen-Karlsson, Minna: Bringing Bergen: Centre for Women’s and Gender Arbeitsteilung 1789-1950. Frankfurt am women into computer engineering: Research, University of Bergen, 1999. Main: Fischer-Taschenbuch-Verl, 1998. curriculum reform processes at two Gender makes a difference: gender institutes of technology. Linköping: Univ, Women in transition: voices from studies at the edge of the millennium: 1999. Diss. Lithuania/Suzanne LaFont, ed. State Denmark 1999/eds. Hilda Rømer University of New York Press, 1998. Shands, Kerstin W: Embracing Space: Christensen & Rikke Sanderhoff. Spatial Metaphors in Feminist Discourse. Copenhagen: The Co-ordination of Connecticut, CT: Greenwood Press, New Journal Women’s and Gender Studies in 1999. Denmark, 1999. International Feminist Journal of Politics State Policy and Gender System in the This new journal works at the intersec- Global coasts: life changes, gender Two German States and Sweden 1945- tions of international relations, politics challenges/Siri Gerrard & Randi Rønning and women’s studies. It will provide a 1989/ed. Rolf Torstendahl. Uppsala Balsvik, eds. Kvinnforsk, University of University, Department of History, 1999. unique forum to foster debate and Tromsø, 1999. development in this vital and rapidly Stenström, Hanna: The Book of Revela- growing area. For an inspection copy, Guide to Women’s Studies in Finland. tion: a vision of the ultimate liberation or Helsinki: Association for Women’s please e-mail: [email protected] - the ultimate backlash?: a study in 20th Studies in Finland & Coucil for Equality more detailed information at http:// century interpretations of Rev 14: 1-5, between Men and Women in Finland, www.tandf.co.uk/journals with special emphasis on feminist 1999. exegesis. Uppsala, 1999. Diss. Images of women in the media: report on existing research in the European Union. Luxembourg: European Communities, Nordic Journal of Women’s 1999. Studies Johansson, Anna: La mujer sufrida - the NORA is an interdisciplinary journal of suffering woman: narratives on femininity Women’s Studies, published in among women in a Nicaraguan barrio. English. Göteborg: Department of sociology, Göteborg University, 1999. Diss. Emphasis is placed on showing a Koivula, Nathalie: Gender in sport. Nordic profile in feminist research. Stockholm, 1999. Diss. NORA aims to discuss and examine the realities and myths of women’s Malmsten, Kersti: Reflective assent in lives in the Nordic countries, histori- basic care: a study in nursing ethics. cally and today. At the same time Uppsala, 1999. Diss. NORA is international in scope, McFadden, Margaret H: Golden cables offering a forum for theoretical of sympathy: the transatlantic sources of debate, dialogue and information on nineteenth-century feminism. Lexington: research of general interest to feminist University Press of Kentucky, 1999. scholars and scientists.

24 News from NIKK 2/99 International Calendar 1999-2000

The included events are mostly in 27-29.03 teleconference English language. 2000 Women’s Lives, Women’s Voices, For updated information including 08-11.01 New Orleans, Louisiana, USA Women’s Solutions: Shaping a National events in Scandinavian languages, Women in Higher Education Agenda for Women in Higher Educa- please check NIKK’s web site 13th Annual International Conference. tion A national teleconference for Women in http://www.nikk.uio.no Info: NAWE: Advancing Women in Higher Education, 1325 18th, St, NW, Suite 210, Higher. Info: Jennifer L. Longnion, 149 Washington, DC 20036-6511, Nicholson Hall, 216 Pillsbury Drive S.E., 1999 [email protected] http//www.nawe.org Minneapolis MN 55455, USA, +1 612 6267550, fax: +1 612 6269192, 03-04.12 Minsk, Belorussia 04-06.02 Toronto, Canada [email protected] http:// Women - Education – Democracy, 1999 Mothering in the African Diaspora: www.umn.edu/women/wihe.html Annual interdisciplinary international Literature, History, Society, Popular conference. Organized by ENVILA, Non- Culture and the Arts 30.03-01.04 Arlington, Texas, USA State Institute for Women Minsk Center International conference. Info: Andrea The Female Principle: Eclipses and Re- for Gender Studies. The conference will OReilly, A.R.M, 726 Atkinson College, Emergences address the issues arising from all York University, 4700 Keele Street, UTA conference on the suppressions and aspects of women’s representation in Toronto, ON Canada M3J 1P3, tel: +1 416 reassertions of the female principle in education as the reflection of how 736 2100 x40206, fax: +1 416 736 5416, human culture. Info: Department of democracy works. Working languages are [email protected] English, Box 19035, University of Texas at Russian, Belarussian, English. Info: Galina Arlington, Arlington, Texas 76019, USA, Shaton, Women’s Non-State Institute 02-04.03 Seville, Spain [email protected] http://www.uta.edu/ “ENVILA”, 220002, P.O. Box 200, Belarus, The Rhetoric(s) of Masculinity english/hermann/2000 Minsk, tel/fax: +375 17 226-0687, Info: Carolina Sanchez-Palencia & Juan [email protected] Carlos Hidalgo, Departamento de 31.03-02.04 Baltimore, Maryland, USA Literatura Inglesa y Norteamericana, Feminist Expo 2000 for Women’s 08-11.12 Accra, Ghana Universidad de Sevilla, C/. Palos de la Empowerment Women: Personal is Political, Local is Frontera, s/n, ES-41004 Sevilla, Spain, The Second Feminist Exposition Nation- Global fax: +34 954551552, [email protected] wide and World-wide invites you to attend Woman and Earth’s 3rd Annual World & [email protected] and the opportunity to co-sponsor. Info: Conference & Expo, and International Feminist Majority Foundation, Expo 2000 Film Festival “Empowering Women, 09-11.03 Helsinki, Finland Team. Tel: +1 703 522 2214, Empowering the Earth”. Info: Woman and Gender, equality and the future [email protected] Earth: Att. Tatyana Mamonova & Mildred The 2nd Baltic Sea Women’s Conference. Didio, 467 Central Park West, Suite 7F, Invites representatives from all countries 10-12.04 Murmansk, Russia New York, NY 10025, USA. Tel/Fax: +1 around the Baltic Sea. The conference Women’s lives in the Barents region 212 866 8130, [email protected] will be a forum for parliamentarians, International conference on women’s http://www.dorsai.org/~womearth/ experts, local and regional politicians, issues. Arranged by the Norwegian women researchers and women active in Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Norwegian 10-12.12 Gregynog, Wales NGOs to meet at national, regional and Ministry of Children and Family Affairs Identities in Action: Languages and local levels. Info: Carita Peltonen, Turku and the Barents Secretariat in Kirkenes. Discourses, Communities and Selves, Women’s Centre, Nylandsgatan 1, FI- Info: Barents Secretariat, tel: +47 78 97 Values and Representations 20500 Åbo/Turku, Finland. Tel: +358 2 70 50, [email protected], http:// Interdisciplinary conference. Info: Daniel 2336172, fax: +358 2 2336174, www.barents.no Chandler, [email protected] http:// [email protected]. www.aber.ac.uk/~jmcwww/Identact/ 12-15.04 Amsterdam, The Netherlands identact.html 10-11.03 Helsinki, Finland Gender and Technology From citizenship to residence 3rd European Social Science History 13-14.12 Turku, Finland Research programme NordFru-Jus conference. Info: Raymond Hofman, Belle Health Care and Its Professionals: organises the seminar on the access to van Zuylen Institute, Rokin 84-90, 1012 Cross-cultural and multidisciplinary Social Protection in EU and the Nordic KX Amsterdam, the Netherlands, tel: +31 approaches – the case of maternity Countries, in co-operation with Social 20 525 3612, fax: +31 20 525 2219, care Insurance Institution and The Federation [email protected] International Multidisciplinary Symposium of Accident Insurance Institution. Info: & PhD-Course. Info: Sirpa Wrede, School Teresa Pohjola, Department of private of Public Health, P.O.Box 607, FI-33101 law, P.O. Box 4,FI-00014 University of Tampere, fax: +358 3 215 6057, Helsinki, Finland. Tel: +358 9 19122813, [email protected] fax: +358 9 19123108, e-mail: [email protected] 25 News from NIKK 2/99 International Calendar 1999-2000

13-16.04 Stanford University, California, 01-05.06 Archangels, Russia 14-18.06 Boston, MA, USA USA Social policy and intervention – in a 2000 Subversions: Women’s Studies The First International Gender and gender perspective and the “Twenty-first Century” Language Association (IGALA) Confer- Theoretical and practical problems for National Women’s Studies Association ence. research in a comparative perspective. A 21st Annual Conference. Info: fax: +1 617 Interdisciplinary conference. Deadline for postgraduate Nordic - NW Russian 521 3199, [email protected] abstracts: 10.01.2000. Info: http://www- Research Course. Funded by NorFa. http://www.nwsa.org/2000ind.htm linguistics.stanford.edu/Conference/igala Deadline for application and abstract: 1st 23-25.06 Leeds, UK March 2000. Send to Marina Kalinina, tel: Gendering Ethics/The Ethics of Gender 25-27.04 Aberystwyth, UK +7 8182 23 62 95, fax: +7 5129 51 61 33, International interdisciplinary conference. Virile Women, Consuming Men: Gender [email protected] Deadline for abstracts 01.02.2000. Info: and Monstrous Appetites in the Middle 07-09.06 Onati, Brasil Sasha Roseneil & Linda Hogan, Centre Ages and the Renaissance The role of communitarian law in for Interdisciplinary Gender Studies, International, interdisciplinary conference implementing equal rights University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK, spanning anthropology, archaeology, art Workshop org. at International Institute [email protected] http:// history, drama, history, literary studies, for the Sociology of Law. Info: Fanny www.leeds.ac.uk/gender-studies theology. Info: The Department of English, Tabak, Rua Almirante Guilhem 332, Rio University of Wales Aberystwyth, Hugh de Janeiro 22440-000, Brazil, fax: +55 21 06-07.07 Edinburgh, Scotland Owen Building, Penglais, Aberystwyth, 274 6833, [email protected] Nursing History Society Conference Ceredigion, SY23 3 DY, UK, http:// The Royal College of Nursing History of www.aber.ac.uk/~engwww/ 07-09.06 Havana Cuba Nursing Society Millennium Conference is The State of Social and Economic a forum for sharing historical research in 04-06.05 Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Thought: Marxist, Third World and nursing. Deadline for abstracts: 15th From answers to Action 2000: Healing Feminist Perspectives January 2000. Post to: Andrea Stirling, Sexual Exploitation and Prostitution The international symposium seeks an HNS Conference Co-ordinator, RCN Info: Genevieve Jones, fax: +1 780 497 interchange and reflection among social Scottish Board, 42 South Oswald Road, 5170, [email protected] scientists and historians from various Edinburgh EH9 2HH, UK. Info: http:// countries on themes related to the www.qmuc.ac.uk/hn/history 11-14.05 Obory, Poland situation of global revolutionary move- Between wars: nations, nationalisms ments in the light of recent developments 15.07-15.10. Hanover, Germany and gender relations in central and in the world economy. Info: Charles International Women’s University eastern Europe 1918-1939 McKelvey, [email protected] A postgraduate program in English on the A conference organised by the German occasion of the world exposition in Historical Institute Warsaw. Papers 8-11.06 Baltimore, USA Hanover (EXPO 2000). Subjects: Body, deadline has expired. Info: Dr. Sophia Virginia Woolf out of bounds City, Information, Migration, Water & Kemlein, GHI Warsaw PKiN, XVII p, Plac The 10th Annual Conference on Virginia Work. Info: German Academic Exchange Defilad 1, skr. 33, PL-00901 Warszawa, Woolf will highlight work on Woolf that Service, Ref. 220, Postfach 200404, DE- Poland, tel: +48 22 6567182, fax + 48 22 crosses regional, temporal, and discipli- 53134 Bonn, Germany, http://www.Int- 6937006, [email protected] nary boundaries of all kinds. Deadline for Frauenuni.de 250-word paper proposal: January 15, 15-16.05 Emek Yezreel, Israel 2000 to Jessica Berman, Woolf Confer- 29.07-03.08 Tampere, Finland An International Conference on: ence Organiser, English Department, VI International Council for Central and Women and Society in the Middle East UMBC, 1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, MD East European Studies World Congress Conference dedicated to studying 21250, USA. Info: http://www.umbc.edu/ Special field of study: Investigating women’s issues in the context of the woolf Gender. Call for papers deadline has Middle East. Info: The organising expired. Info: Finnish Institute for Russian committee WSME Conference, Emek 08-11.06 Vancouver, Canada and East European Studies, Annankatu Yezreel College, Emek Yezreel, 19300, Women, Work and Computerisation: 44, FI-00100 Helsinki, Finland, tel: +358 9 Israel. Tel: +972 6 6423456, fax: +972 6 Charting a Course to the Future 2285 4434, fax: +358 9 2285 4431. 6423457, [email protected] International conference. Abstracts deadline has expired. Info: Deborah Kirby, 26-29.05 Ontario, Canada WWC2000, School of Communication, Simone de Beauvoir - L’engagement Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC d’une oeuvre et d’une vie Canada V5A 1S6, fax: +1 604 291 4024, Colloque international. Info: Hélène [email protected] http://www.sfu.ca/ Benbaruk, Etudes françaises, Trent ~wwc2000/ university, Peterborogh, Ontario, Canada K9J 7B8, tel: +1 705 748 1394, fax: +1 705 748 1630, [email protected] 26 News from NIKK 2/99 International Calendar 1999-2000

06-13.08 Oslo, Norway 16-17.09 Bath, UK 20-22.10 Toronto, ON, Canada Conflict and Co-operation in Sites of Heartlands and Peripheries in Women’s Mothering and Literature, Popular Cultural Co-existence: Perspectives History: Local, National and Global Culture and the Arts from Women’s History Perspectives The Association for Research on Conference sessions by the International Women’s history network (UK) annual Mothering and Centre for Research on Federation for Research in Women’s conference. Call for papers. Papers and Mothering announce their 4th Annual History/Federation Internationale pour le abstracts of 250 words by April 10th 2000 International Conference. Call for papers: Recherche en Histoire des Femmes at the to June Hannam, Faculty of Humanities, 250 word abstract (to submit an abstract, meeting of the International Congress of University of the West of England, St one has to be a member of A.R.M.) and/ the Historical Sciences. Info: Ida Blom, Mattias Campus, Oldbury Court rd, or proposal for session and a 50 word bio Dept. of History, University of Bergen, Fishponds Bristol BS16 2 JP, UK, tel: +44 by February 15, 2000. Info: Andrea P.O. Box 25, NO-5027 Bergen, Norway, 1179 656261 ext 4390; fax: +44 O´Reilly, A.R.M, 726 Atkinson College, tel: +47 55 58 23 02, +47 55 58 23 02, 1179750402, [email protected] York University, 4700 Keel Street Toronto, [email protected] ON Canada M3J 1P3. Tel: +1 416 736- 28.09-01.10 Bologna, Italy 2100 x60366, [email protected] 10-11.08 Washington, DC, USA Body, gender, subjectivity: crossing Sexual Harassment in Global Context disciplinary and institutional borders Ninth Annual Conference International 4th European Feminist Research Confer- Coalition Against Sexual Harassment. ence. Jointly org. by Centro di Papers, workshops, panels, and discus- Documentazione delle Donne, Bologna, sion groups on all aspects of sexual ATHENA, AOIFE & Bologna 2000, Citta harassment are sought. Proposals on the Europea della Cultura. Info: Biblioteca del following topics/areas of harassment are Centro di Documentazione delle Donne, especially welcomed: educational fax: +39 51 263460, settings (K-12; college); cross-national [email protected] studies; male perpetrators or targets; women in male-dominated environments. 05-07.10 Stockholm, Sweden ICASH is a multi-discipline, international American history, culture and society group of professionals (academics, The Swedish Association for American researchers, human resource personnel, Studies (SAAS): The Second Interdiscipli- clinicians/therapists, attorneys, and nary Conference. Theme included: activists). Proposal deadline 15.02.2000. Looking at Leadership: Women in Politics Info: Susan Fineran, Boston University, and Business. Call for papers. Deadline tel: +1 617 3537912, [email protected] for abstracts (written in Swedish or English) January 15, 2000. For registra- 12-15.09 Zürich, Switzerland tion, abstracts and info: Dr. Kerstin W. Gender Equality in Higher Education Shands, Conference Co-ordinator, 2nd European Conference. Info: Prof. K. [email protected] von Salis, Geological Institute, CH-8092 Zürich, Switzerland, fax: +41 1 6321080, 11-14.10 Zürich, Switzerland [email protected] http:// Knowledge, Power, Gender. Philosophy www.equal.ethz.ch/conference2000/ and the Future of the “condition conf2000.html féminine” 9th Symposium of the International 24-26.08 Liverpool, UK Association of Women Philosophers. Info: Posting the male: Representations of IAPh Symposium 2000, P.O. Box 1207, Masculinity in the Twentieth Century CH-8021 Zürich, Switzerland, The conference aims to interrogate [email protected] http://www.iaph.org images and narratives of masculinity in twentieth-century culture. Proposals for papers by 31st January 2000 to Daniel Lea & Berthold Schoene-Harwood, Research Centre for Literature and Cultural History, Liverpool John Moores University, Dean Walters Building, St James Road, Liverpool L1 7BR, UK. Info: Cathy Cromby, tel: +44 151 231 5009, [email protected] 27 Please check NIKK, the Nordic Institute for Women’s ❑ I want to be put on the mailing list for News from NIKK and other Studies and Gender Research, is an interdisci- material in English. ❑ plinary, Nordic research institution financed by I want to be put on the mailing list for Nytt fra NIKK and other material in the Nordic Council of Ministers. Scandinavian languages. NIKK serves as a platform for cooperation for ❑ Copies of Occasional Paper no. 1 NIKK in Dialogue: Reports from the Women’s Studies and Gender Research in the ❑ Baltic Countries and North West Russia on Women´s Studies and Nordic countries. ❑ Gender Research, September 1998. ❑ Copies of Occasional Paper no. 2 EMILJA: the Baltic and North West NIKK promotes, initiates, coordinates and ❑ Russian Database for Women's Studies and Gender Research, informs about Women’s Studies and Gender September 1998. Research in the five Nordic countries and internationally. Brochures in English Scand. NIKK conducts research projects. • NIKK ❑❑ Director ❑❑ Fride Eeg-Henriksen • Databases EDITH & EMILJA tel: +47 22 85 89 43 • Living for Tomorrow project ❑❑ [email protected] Head of Research Please use CAPITALS; Eva Magnusson tel: +47 22 85 87 13 [email protected] Name: ...... Information coordinator Address: ...... Maria Grönroos tel: +47 22 85 89 34 [email protected] ...... Senior Information Advisor tel: ...... Trine Lynggard tel: +47 22 85 87 14 fax: ...... [email protected] e-mail: ...... Co-ordinator for Men’s Studies tel: +47 22 85 88 57

Researcher/Project coordinator Jill Lewis tel: +47 22 85 89 31 [email protected] Send to NIKK Consultants P.O.Box 1156 Blindern Elisabeth K. Lorenzen N-0317 Oslo tel: +47 22 85 88 71 Norway [email protected] tel: +47 22 85 89 21 Guro Karstensen fax: +47 22 85 89 50 tel: +47 22 85 88 76 [email protected] [email protected] www.uio.no/www-other/nikk/ John Tømterud tel: +47 22 85 89 21 [email protected] NIKK, The Nordic institute for Women’s Studies and Gender Editorial information Research, is financed by the Nordic Council of Ministers, News from NIKK, no. 2, 1999, vol. 4. Store Strandstræde 18, DK-1255 Copenhagen K, Denmark, ISSN 0807-1497 tel: +45 33960200, fax: +45 33960216, www.norden.org Fride Eeg-Henriksen, editor in chief Trine Lynggard, editor

Graphic design: Alien Design Millenium Greetings! Printing: CDDU Repro NIKK sends you warmest wishes for a Happy, Peaceful, Empowering, Safe and Healthy New Year. We thank you all for the good co-operation we have had in the past year and look forward to working with you in the new Millenium!