The Feminist Art of Self-Education

Abstract

Sociologist Elizabeth Long has charted the emergence of women’s reading groups in nineteenth-century America. ‘The women who founded literary clubs’, Long (2004, 337) tells us, ‘were aflame with the then revolutionary desire for education and self-development, which they called “self-culture”.’ Comparable aspirations continued to fuel a drive amongst women to organize together within reading and publishing groups, usually outside of official institutions, well into the twentieth century. This ‘revolutionary desire’ for self-education has also been evident in the UK women’s art and art history movement, although it has not been addressed in thorough detail. This article therefore seeks to situate an overlooked history of artistic reading and publishing communities in relation to an established body of theory in literary and cultural studies. These theoretical materials will illuminate the importance that reading and self-education (either in person or as part of a periodical network) had in establishing solidarity, and generating debate, within a flourishing art and art history movement. The second half of this article focuses on a specific case study. FAN: Feminist Art News (1980–1993) was an independent, grassroots publication that grew out of the Women Artists’ Newsletter in London. Temporary editorial collectives published themed issues on a quarterly basis. This article contends that it is no coincidence the subject of art education formed the focus of the periodical’s first issue, as well as a subsequent issue four years later. This indicates the significance of a reflexive auto-didacticism to second-wave feminism, as well as gesturing towards the long history of ‘education and self-improvement’ that has fuelled women’s reading and study groups since the nineteenth century.     

二战后日本的地域史研究

二战后,日本史学界以国内某行政区或某历史区域为对象的地域史研究取得了丰硕成果。战后初期,出于根除皇国史观等的影响及修正历史教育的需要,学界开始推动地域史研究。地方史研究协议会的成立为相关研究者、研究机构间的协作提供了平台。战后初期的地方史研究对战前乡土史进行了批判,并以唯物史观为基本理论框架,侧重社会经济史研究。1970年前后,日本地域史研究得到飞速发展。各地的地方史研究会相继成立;地方史料的发掘、保存、公开活动取得巨大成果;研究方法、理论的探讨亦形成一定体系。20世纪80年代末以来,地域史研究在目的、方法、视角上有诸多转变,逐渐摆脱附属于整体史的地位而走向自立。二战后日本地域史研究成果数量庞大、类型多样,但也存在不少问题,如资料收集和研究的片面性、研究成果良莠不齐等。     

Gender equality and the electoral system in the regional council of Sardinia

This article provides an account of the process followed by the legislative assembly of the autonomous region of Sardinia, the regional council, to change its electoral law. More specifically, this article will focus on equal access to the elective office at the regional council that the electoral law should have guaranteed. The introduction of measures of gender equality is part of the broader process of change in the electoral law of Sardinia. It is also part of the wider review process of Sardinian autonomy that finds its roots in the amendment of title V of the Italian Constitution of 2001. Following these reforms, constitutional law 3/2013 states that ‘In order to achieve the balance between men and women in representation’, the new electoral law should ‘promote a new equal opportunity in the access to the office of regional councillor’ (article 16). The introduction of double preference for male and female candidates would have guaranteed equality, instead of reserving a share of seats to the underrepresented sex. It would have involved a new approach to the problem of underrepresentation of women. At the 20 June 2013 meeting, however, double preference was rejected in a secret ballot. Yet only four years later, on 21 November 2017, the electoral law was changed to guarantee equal access for women.     

Culture and working life: Ari Sitas and the transformation of labour studies in South Africa

This lecture was given at the Celebrating Ari Sitas: the World of Work and the Power of Poetics, Global Studies Programme (GSP) conference, September 4 & 5 2017, at the Centre for African Studies Gallery, University of Cape Town.     

坚持马克思主义指导地位发展当代中国的女性学和女性研究

马克思主义妇女理论和女性主义理论在根本出发点、核心议题、研究方法和目标指向上是一致的，坚持马克思主义的指导地位是当代中国女性研究和女性学发展的必然要求。当代中国女性研究和女性学发展要旗帜鲜明地坚持马克思主义的指导地位，借鉴和吸收中国传统文化和西方理论流派，形成中国特色的女性学和女性研究。     

论女性学的学科系统性与专业性

以习近平总书记在哲学社会科学工作座谈会上的讲话精神为指导，具体描述我国女性学学科系统性与专业性的丰富内涵，深入分析发展中的我国女性学保持学科系统性与专业性的重要意义、存在的问题及其主要原因，并对如何更好地彰显本学科的系统性和专业性特点展开对策思考，具有重要的理论和实践价值。     

Case-control studies: Design issues for criminological applications

The current understanding of the determinants of homicide derives primarily from studies in which data are aggregated for geopolitical units. Case-control studies and other analytic methods are needed to test causal hypotheses regarding the risk of homicide victimization or perpetration for individuals. Strengths and limitations of the case-control method are illustrated by comparing the design with cohort studies. Fundamental issues include the selection and comparability of cases and controls, effects of biases, interpretation of risk estimates, and problems of implementation. Increased use of this method should advance our understanding of homicide and other forms of intentional violence.Presented in part at the 37th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Criminology, San Diego, California, November 16, 1985.     

A Survey of International Studies Programs at Liberal Arts Colleges and Universities in the Midwest: Characteristics and Correlates

International studies majors have become increasingly popular at liberal arts colleges and universities in the Midwest. What are the features of various international studies programs, particularly regarding the degree of "structure" in the major? What factors appear to be related to whether a liberal arts college or university offers an international studies major in the first place? What explains the variations that exist that characterize international studies majors? This paper empirically investigates these questions by surveying sixty-six liberal arts and sciences colleges and universities in Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri. We find that although international studies majors are somewhat prevalent in the "heartland," there is considerable variation in how they are structured. Further, the results suggest that whether or not an institution has an international studies program is largely a function of whether an institution has a graduate program in a field that allows for a concentration in international affairs. We conclude with some observations that might promote future discussion on development of international studies majors.     

If Violence Is Domestic, Does It Really Count?

Estimates of the prevalence of marital violence have been found to vary dramatically from survey to survey. This paper addresses one potential explanation for this difference which involves the focus and format of different surveys. We examine the extent to which survey respondents are willing to report marital violence in a context which focuses on criminal behaviors as opposed to a family violence context. In a very basic way, this answers a question as to whether individuals are willing to define acts of marital violence as criminal. Methodologically, it is a measurement issue which seriously affects the ability to compare findings across samples. National Youth Survey data are used to compare rates of generalized spousal assault and victimization reported in a crime context with rates of marital assault and victimization reported in a family violence context. Results indicate that 40 to 83% of all marital assaults and victimizations reported in the marital violence section are not reported in a format which focuses on criminal assault and victimization.