Truth or Dare? Celebrating 15 years of Women's Studies in Utrecht
27/10/2003
13th and 14th November 2003
Utrecht, The Netherlands
The conference aims at an international comparison of theoretical development in gender research in an interdisciplinary perspective within the humanities. It highlights recent developments in the field, especially in new media, epistemology and issues related to ethnicity and cultural diversity. It is also an opportunity to celebrate fifteen years of academic success. Women's Studies Utrecht offers the only MA currently available in the Netherlands. This includes a one year professional Master curriculum and also a two-year research Master's degree. Utrecht also coordinates the European Thematic Network of Women's Studies, Athena, supported by the Socrates programme of the European Commission, which has a membership of 106 universities in 30 European countries. Utrecht has been officially granted by the European Commission a pluri-annual grant to host the NOISE summerschool in multicultural Women's Studies.
THURSDAY NOVEMBER 13th
Morning Session
Gender, Culture and Technology
Chair: Prof.Dr. Rosi Braidotti (Utrecht University)
Opening by Prof.Dr. W.H. Gispen (Rector Magnificus, Utrecht University)
Plenary keynote speech by:
Prof.Dr. Katherine Hayles (UCLA, USA)
Panel on New Media, including:
Prof.Dr. José van Dijck (University of Amsterdam)
Presentation of new Utrecht Women's Studies website, including computergames by Erna Kotkamp, Marinka Copier and Misja van Laatum
Presentation of Dutch Women's Studies Association (NGV)
LUNCH
Afternoon Session
Women, Science and Epistemology
Chair: Dr. Berteke Waaldijk (Utrecht University)
Panel on Women and Science, including:
- Dr. Margo Brouns (Groningen University)
- Prof.Dr. Elzbieta Oleksy (University of Lodz, Poland)
- Prof.Dr. W.H. Gispen (Rector Magnificus, Utrecht University)
- Prof.Dr. Pim Levelt (President of Royal Netherlands Academy, KNAW)
- Dr. D. Zijderveld (Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research, NWO)
Prof. Dr. Harriet Silius (Abo Akademi University, Finland) on the Association of Institutions in Feminist Education and Research in Europe (AOIFE)
Conference drinks
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 14th
Morning Session
Gender, Ethnicity and Cultural Diversity at the Crossroads
Chair: Prof.Dr. Gloria Wekker (Utrecht University)
Opening by Prof.Dr. H. Bertens (Dean Arts Faculty, Utrecht University)
Plenary Keynote speech by:
Dr. Ann Phoenix (Open University, UK)
Panel on Gender and Multiculturalism, including:
- Dr. Halleh Ghorashi (Free University Amsterdam)
- Prof.Dr. Svetlana Slapsak (Graduate School of Humanities Ljubljana)
- Ms. Boutheina Gribaa (Centre for Information on Women, Tunisia)
Presentation of the International Information Centre and Archives for the Women's Movement (IIAV) by Joke Blom
LUNCH
Afternoon Session
Learning from the South
Chair: Dr. Rosemarie Buikema (Utrecht University)
Plenary keynote speech by:
Marlene Dumas (South African artist)
Panel on South Africa, including:
- Diana Ferrus (poet, University of Western Cape, South Africa)
- Zulfah Sallies (South African writer and director)
- Prof.Dr. Ena Jansen (University of Amsterdam)
Other activities around the celebration of 15 years Women's Studies Utrecht:
* "Fifteen years of Women's Studies at Utrecht University" written by Jeannette van der Sanden. The main activity of the Lustrum is the production of a brief history of the making of the Women's Studies curricula at Utrecht University. In its young history the department has created a cutting edge programme of education and research with an international reputation.
Women's Studies in Utrecht has constantly been on the move and is still in full advance. Through a series of interviews this booklet offers the opportunity to reflect on the extraordinary adventure of the programme, the efforts of its team, and the conditions that allowed it to grow.
