Dynamics of dissent: A study of inclusion and solidarity in the transnational women's movement
Abstract
Can women of the world unite? Or is solidarity among sisters against gender injustice an impossible vision? The goal of my dissertation is to understand how the transnational women's movement creates coalitions while remaining attentive to differences among movement actors. Coalition building in the transnational women's movement means creating alliances across divisions of race, class, nationality, ethnicity, religion, age, and sexuality. The movement is constantly faced with a tradeoff between its ability to generate collective action by emphasizing commonalities and a desire to remain sensitive to differences among women. My research asks how the transnational women's movement negotiates the seeming contradictions of building solidarity to create an inclusive movement. I conduct case studies of international conferences held by two transnational women's organizations, the Asia-Pacific Women's Watch (APWW) and Association of Women's Rights in Development (AWID) as way to understand how the transnational women's movement builds coalition. I use conference documents, text and sound files, blogs, conference websites, videos, and photographs to conduct a qualitative analysis of dynamics within conferences. Three themes emerge from my study. First, the conference space itself is crucial to creating inclusion. Safe spaces where dissent can be expressed without negative consequences are important to create inclusion. Second, I find in examining the nature of participation, that in order for members of marginalized groups to feel included not only must they be present but also acknowledged, given the opportunity to engage in discussions and be heard with respect. Third, I find that conference participants use two main strategies to build solidarity: they emphasize a common vision and common threats.
Degree
Ph.D.
Advisors
Clark, Purdue University.
Subject Area
Womens studies|Political science
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