The future of feminism in an uncertain world
Infectious diseases associated with poverty kill almost nine million people every year
How climate change impacts women and men differently will be just one of the issues discussed at a forthcoming forum at Monash University to celebrate International Women’s Day.
An upcoming round table discussion, The Future of Feminism in an Uncertain World, hosted by Monash University’s Gender, Leadership and Social Sustainability (GLASS) research unit, will celebrate the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future.
The discussion will feature contributions from two highly respected academics from the field of women’s studies.
Adjunct senior lecturer from the Monash Institute of Health Services Research, Dr Leslie Cannold and Dr Elaine Enarson, an independent scholar who is internationally acclaimed for her work in women and disasters will be speaking at the event.
Event organiser Professor Margaret Alston, said the roundtable would provide an opportunity for GLASS’s PhD students and others to interact with two eminent scholars in an in-depth basis.
“There will be discussions on the latest research findings in the area of gender and climate change. Delegates will discuss, debate and analyse the way climate change impacts women and men differently,” Professor Alston said.
“Delegates will also discuss the way research can inform policy makers and encourage action that recognises and addresses these gendered impacts and opportunities of climate change.”
Dr Cannold, a renowned ethicist, author, commentator and activist, believes many young women are aware of the need to organise as women to fight the remaining obstacles to gender inequality.
“The future for feminism, sadly perhaps, is bright. On the upside women are working and playing a greater role in public life. On the downside, their climb up the ladder - and relatedly men's climb off it and into the home - is painfully slow,” Dr Cannold said.
“Ultimately, the aim of feminism is its own elimination - the creation of a world in which a woman defending women's equality rights is not required. We have not yet reached that day.”
The GLASS Research Unit has a broad research agenda including the social and gendered impacts of climate change, violence against women, leadership and social sustainability.
Professor Alston said the GLASS research unit is working to enhance women’s leadership and achieve gender equality and the further empowerment of women and girls through the high quality and relevance of its research and publications.
The Future of Feminism in an Uncertain World will be held from 3-5pm on 8 March in the Clayfield Room, Building A at Monash University's Caulfield campus.