Registration is now open for the Rural Women’s Studies Association’s (RWSA’s) Triennial Conference. The University of Guelph (U of G) will host the international conference virtually from May 11 to 15, 2021.
Dr. Catharine A. Wilson, who is the Francis and Ruth Redelmeier Professor of Rural History at U of G and co-chair of the RWSA, is honoured to bring the conference to the university.
“The University of Guelph is the ideal location as it is internationally recognized for its impact on agricultural sciences and rural life,” Wilson said. “Hosting the conference here will foster valuable new connections. It is an opportunity to share research on rural women in historical perspective, foster unexpected partnerships, promote new perspectives, and mobilize knowledge on a series of issues that concern rural women today.”
In total, over 140 individuals from 13 countries will present their research on the theme of “Kitchen Table Talk to Global Forum.” Presenters will discuss a range of issues on the table, including activism, feminism, social justice, mental health, innovation, community development, and cultural expression.
Keynote speaker Dr. Kim Anderson will discuss Indigenous “Kitchen Table Methodologies” and the work underway at her Kitchen Table research lab. A special plenary session will address how COVID-19 has affected rural women. Panelists will start the conversation, sharing formal research and personal observations. Then, breakout discussions will enable participants to explore the pandemic’s impact on diverse populations. Panelists in the plenary session “Mentorship and Development Networks for Rural Women and Researchers” will provide helpful advice to anyone interested in finding a mentor or organizing a mentorship program.
The conference will also include a range of performances. Theatre artist Taylor Graham, for example, will share excerpts from the popular play The Farm Show. Music therapist Mary Parkinson will share her music and discuss how music therapy supports the needs of rural communities.
This 2021 program is “exceptionally strong and diverse,” said Dr. Katherine Jellison, RWSA co-chair and a professor at Ohio University. “I look forward to attending presentations that represent a diversity of approaches, points-of-view, and areas of the globe.”
The RWSA welcomes everyone with an interest in the contemporary and historical experiences of rural and farm women.
The Rural Women's Studies Association is an international association for the advancement and promotion of farm and rural women's gender studies in historical perspective. The Association aims to encourage research, to promote existing and forthcoming scholarship, and to establish and maintain links with contemporary farm and rural women's organizations.
Source : RWSA