Women's NGOs, the United Nations and expanding civil society: a feminist critique, with reference to four UN member countries. Feminist non-governmental organisations have placed women's human rights concerns on the international agenda, but they are also increasingly expected to tailor themselves both to international bureaucracy and a domestic political role by becoming primary providers of what has become known as "social capital". Human rights remain important for women, but new strategies ....Women's NGOs, the United Nations and expanding civil society: a feminist critique, with reference to four UN member countries. Feminist non-governmental organisations have placed women's human rights concerns on the international agenda, but they are also increasingly expected to tailor themselves both to international bureaucracy and a domestic political role by becoming primary providers of what has become known as "social capital". Human rights remain important for women, but new strategies are needed to ensure government accountability for transforming the rhetoric of women's rights into reality. This project will examine these issues as faced by feminist NGOs in Australia, France, Pakistan and Haïti, to identify issues in common and suggest strategies for furthering the international feminist human rights project.Read moreRead less
Sexual Technologies and Reproductive Powers. The project is to investigate the impact of the new reproductive technologies on the concepts of the sexual relation. The derivation of concepts of sexual equality, and their relation and dependence on technology will be examined. Using the theoretical perspectives of European philosophy, in conjunction with contemporary feminist philosophy, the direction of change in concepts will be investigated.
Country Girlhood: the meaning and experience of girlhood in rural and regional Australia. What meanings does Australian country life impose on or generate for girls, and how have these helped define both country life and girlhood in Australia? Looking at the experience of growing up in rural and regional (ie. non-metropolitan) Australia, and how governments and communities have sought to respond to and define it, this project considers how country girlhood has interacted with social policy and o ....Country Girlhood: the meaning and experience of girlhood in rural and regional Australia. What meanings does Australian country life impose on or generate for girls, and how have these helped define both country life and girlhood in Australia? Looking at the experience of growing up in rural and regional (ie. non-metropolitan) Australia, and how governments and communities have sought to respond to and define it, this project considers how country girlhood has interacted with social policy and other influences, and as a particular conjunction of age, gender, location, and community. Is there such a thing as Australian country girlhood, and how has it been shaped by or helped form Australian ways of life?Read moreRead less
From Human Rights to Human Security: Changing Paradigms for Dealing with Inequality in the Asia-Pacific Region. This project is particularly timely as we celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It is clearly aligned with the national research priority goals of Understanding our Region and the World and Strengthening Australia's Social and Economic Fabric. The question of human rights is a pressing issue throughout the Asia-Pacific region and much is to be gai ....From Human Rights to Human Security: Changing Paradigms for Dealing with Inequality in the Asia-Pacific Region. This project is particularly timely as we celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It is clearly aligned with the national research priority goals of Understanding our Region and the World and Strengthening Australia's Social and Economic Fabric. The question of human rights is a pressing issue throughout the Asia-Pacific region and much is to be gained by a comparative approach which considers strategies for embedding human rights practice and principles in particular local contexts and how they may be adapted in other national contexts. Read moreRead less
Understanding anger and its consequences amongst women in conflict-affected Timor Leste: Implications for enhancing sustainable development. An Australian national priority goal is to understand our region...(its) societies, politics and cultures. AusAID highlights gender within its key theme Investing in People, emphasizing that 'gender equality is integral to growth, governance and stability'. Australia has made a massive investment in the stabilization of East Timor and other post-conflict c ....Understanding anger and its consequences amongst women in conflict-affected Timor Leste: Implications for enhancing sustainable development. An Australian national priority goal is to understand our region...(its) societies, politics and cultures. AusAID highlights gender within its key theme Investing in People, emphasizing that 'gender equality is integral to growth, governance and stability'. Australia has made a massive investment in the stabilization of East Timor and other post-conflict countries including aid for women's organizations. Yet there is a notable gap in the empirical base for designing programs for women. The proposed study focusing on women's anger has the potential to ground psychosocial programming for women on a firm empirical base. The results may be transferable to other traumatized and disadvantaged communities.
Read moreRead less
Work, care, retirement and health: ageing agendas. This project will undertake a gendered analysis of how Australians can retire well, taking account of their key resources (such as work, superannuation, the aged pension, and other assets) and key demands (such as to work longer and to care for others in the context of an ageing population and a more feminised workforce).
From high school to higher education: Gendered pathways in information, communication and computer technology education. Serious gender-based disparities exist in participation in the Information, Communication, and Computing Technologies (ICCT) field, in both higher education and industry, with a 2004 review of Australian university participation rates identifying women as an equity target group in this field. A multi-method, multi-stage project has been design to identify the processes that le ....From high school to higher education: Gendered pathways in information, communication and computer technology education. Serious gender-based disparities exist in participation in the Information, Communication, and Computing Technologies (ICCT) field, in both higher education and industry, with a 2004 review of Australian university participation rates identifying women as an equity target group in this field. A multi-method, multi-stage project has been design to identify the processes that lead to this gender gap. Specifically, the project will focus on students' experiences and decisions at secondary school in three states to ascertain why so few girls choose to enter university-level ICCT courses, and what strategies could be implemented in schools to remedy this problem. Read moreRead less
The Smith Family VIEW Clubs of Australia: From Philanthropy towards Social Enterprise. This project offers the opportunity to do original and innovative research with one of Australia's most successful women's community service organisations, The Smith Family VIEW (Voice, Interests and Education of Women) Clubs. The research will investigate the clubs' response to The Smith Family plan for them to play a new role in social development and social change, and whether this response differs among cl ....The Smith Family VIEW Clubs of Australia: From Philanthropy towards Social Enterprise. This project offers the opportunity to do original and innovative research with one of Australia's most successful women's community service organisations, The Smith Family VIEW (Voice, Interests and Education of Women) Clubs. The research will investigate the clubs' response to The Smith Family plan for them to play a new role in social development and social change, and whether this response differs among clubs in rural and regional and metropolitan areas. Conducted in collaboration with a major national community organisation, the project will provide multi-disciplinary training in social policy in the specialist research environment of the Social Policy Research Centre.Read moreRead less
A study of the prevalence, experience and nature of child-to-mother violence in a high risk geographical area. Child-to-mother violence is an under acknowledged but serious problem in the Australian and international contexts. This four phased study will measure the extent, scope and nature of child-to-mother violence in a high risk geographic area of Sydney. It will provide insights into the perspectives of mothers, health and welfare workers. Data will be generated from population survey and ....A study of the prevalence, experience and nature of child-to-mother violence in a high risk geographical area. Child-to-mother violence is an under acknowledged but serious problem in the Australian and international contexts. This four phased study will measure the extent, scope and nature of child-to-mother violence in a high risk geographic area of Sydney. It will provide insights into the perspectives of mothers, health and welfare workers. Data will be generated from population survey and in-depth interviews. Synthesised data will provide a framework for sustainable and supportive interventions for affected families. The findings can be utilised by policy makers and the community to expose and address this complex problem of family violence.Read moreRead less
Whiteness: A Genealogical Study. We know so little about the white fathers of indigenous children and yet they remain a crucial part of stolen generations history. Bringing to the fore material about white fathers may further research on the possibilities of reconciling different historical accounts of Australian social life. As such, this research promises both intellectual innovation and practical societal benefits.