The purpose of this session is to analyze dynamics of gender and societies at the age of democratization, globalization and anti-terror war. Democratization and globalization have been the political keywords for these two decades. Women have been more empowered in such a change: they can act, vote and address opinions in many countries. Therefore, women are crucial agency to challenge the limits of contemporary societies.
This process is, however, not uni-liner. Democratization tends to bring populist identity politics: coarse nationalism and religious resurgence have been strengthened in many places. Women are easily chosen as a target of oppressive control, while they themselves often contribute to aggressive tendency of politics as well as politics of militarization.
Globalization is double-edged, too. Owing to the borderless flow of people, goods, money and information, women can move beyond traditional barriers of family, community and state. On the other hand, because of severe poverty, sudden natural disasters, environmental damages caused by developmental projects, criminal atmospheres, military conflicts and wars, they are frequently forced to be freed from previous human networks as laborers, immigrants and refugees with their children.
Fumika Sato will mainly focus on the former issue based of the case of
Japan and Pamela Philipose will discuss the latter issue base on the
experience of South Asia. Mako Yoshimura and Keiko Aiba will present her
opinions
and
comments
on both papers. Chiharu Takenaka will serve as a moderator for all of
you.