2nd Biennial International Women's Studies Conference

Dates: 12-14 June, 2008
Abstract Submission Deadline: 15 February, 2008
Location: Izmir University of Economics, Turkey
Website: http://dba.ieu.edu.tr/women/index.php

Izmir University of Economics invites you to participate in their second biennial women's studies conference to be held between 12-14 June, 2008.

This year's conference, which is the second women's studies conference to be held at the Izmir University of Economics, is entitled "Gender and Positive Action: Empowering or Disabling?" and will aim to explore the effects of positive action on women -- a topic that has received a significant amount of press but relatively little comprehensive academic studies. The main objective of this conference is to offer a platform for discussion and exchange of ideas among scholars, practitioners, governmental and non-governmental organizations. Although women remain under-represented in many sectors of the economy, educational institutions and in political offices, the issue of aiding their advancement via positive action policies is a heated topic. While advocates of positive action claim that such policies clearly promote access to education, employment and political representation for underrepresented women, a task necessary to compensate for past and current discrimination, opponents argue that such policies only serve to create a different type of discrimination and promotes the advancement of unqualified individuals simply because they are women.

The debate over gender quotas was a hot topic in the recent national elections of Turkey held in July 2007. Women's groups advocated the implementation of a gender quota that would allow for women to increase their numbers in parliament, which at 4.3% was the lowest number among all European Union members and candidates. The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) argued that empowering women through other methods was a better method. Many other states, developed and developing have discussed the issue of gender quotas in parliaments and have arrived at numerous recommendations and solutions to increase the number of female representatives. Our conference aims to analyze the effectiveness of positive action policies such as gender quotas and asks the question of whether or not it "empowers or disables?"

Given the current status of discussions surrounding positive action, this conference hopes to explore in detail the pros and cons of such an approach.

All papers are required to be submitted in English. Turkish-English translation will be provided in plenary sessions and sessions focusing on Turkey.