A newsletter from the
Organization for Research on Women And Communication
Stacey K. Sowards, Newsletter Editor
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No. 2 June 2011 |
In this Issue . . . Page
From the President…………………………………………………………………………....1
Call for Vice President/Treasurer Nominations.....………………………….………....2
2011 ORWAC Award Recipients…………….………………………………………………3
New: ORWAC Memberships Now Online ……..…………………………….…………..3
Research Grant Recipients’ Reports ……..…………………………………….….……4-5
WSCA Convention: Call for Papers and Panels………….……...……………....…….6
“Ask the Oracle” Column…………………………………………………………..…….....7
ORWAC Research Grant: Call for Applications..……………………………...............8
ORWAC Officers……………………………………………………………………………….9
Membership Form……………………………………………………………………...……10
A Word from the President
Diane Blair, California State University, Fresno
Greetings everyone and I hope the start of the summer finds you happy, healthy, and looking forward to some exciting adventures! Speaking of which, there are some significant opportunities afoot for ORWAC members. There is still time to apply for our annual Research Development Grant, although the July 1st deadline is quickly approaching. This is the fourth year ORWAC has provided grants designed to assist feminist scholars in their research and creative projects. Be sure to check out the details in the call that appears in the newsletter.
Also in this issue is ORWAC’s call for papers/panels for the upcoming WSCA conference. This February we head to the Land of Enchantment, Albuquerque, New Mexico. This year’s conference theme is particularly well suited to our own organization’s mission, “Striving for Social Change,” and I look forward to receiving your submissions and planning another engaging conference program.
ORWAC is also looking for a few good people to share their leadership skills and enthusiasm with our organization. In the coming year, we need to fill two officer positions—Vice President and Treasurer. The election of these officers will take place at our annual business meeting in February. The strength of our organization is dependent upon our amazing members’ willingness to come forward and take on leadership roles. Our current officers in those positions would be more than happy to talk with anyone about the expectations and responsibilities associated with the positions. I’m also happy to talk with anyone who might be interested. If you would like to nominate yourself or someone else you think we might reach out to who would be interested, please let us know. Additional information on these exciting opportunities and all the latest news from ORWAC can be found in the following pages, so be sure to read on!
Call for ORWAC Vice President & Treasurer Nominations
ORWAC is seeking nominations for the Vice President and Treasurer positions. Becoming an officer of ORWAC is a great opportunity to connect with feminist and women’s studies scholars in our discipline. Although the responsibilities are greater than other service positions related to conference programming, the possibilities for connecting with the other Executive Officers as well as the many new and more established scholars in our field makes ORWAC work well worth it.
The term will begin in February 2012. If you are interested or would like to nominate someone, please contact Diane Blair at dblair@csufresno.edu.
Vice President Description: The Vice President shall serve for two years with an expectation of becoming President. The term begins at the end of the business meeting in which the Vice President was elected. Duties include: acting on behalf of the President in the event of the President’s unavailability; attending pre-conference planning sessions for WSCA’s conference as necessary, preparing the ORWAC newsletter, serving as a reviewer for papers/programs, taking and distributing minutes at business meetings, ordering awards, and attending executive board and business meetings.
Treasurer Description: The Treasurer shall serve for four years. The term begins at the end of the business meeting in which the Treasurer was elected. Duties include: maintaining a record of individual and student memberships, sending membership renewal mailings in November of each year, processing dues and receipts, writing all checks on behalf of ORWAC, maintaining financial records, submitting quarterly and annual financial reports, filing taxes, maintaining organization’s investments following consultation with Executive Officers, and attending executive board and business meetings.
Also, see our website for more information on bylaws, duties, and responsibilities at www.orwac.org.
Congratulations
ORWAC Awards Recipients!
ORWAC would like to congratulate this year’s recipient of the Feminist Scholar Award for outstanding scholarship published in our journal, Women’s Studies in Communication. Once again, it was difficult to select just one essay to be honored this year. Karma Chávez’s essay, “Spatializing Gender Performativity: Ecstasy and Possibilities for Livable Life in the Tragic Case of Victoria Arellano,” was selected for its focus on new ways of thinking about performativity, intersectionality, and gender, race, and class issues facing those who are detained under U.S. immigration policies. Congratulations to Karma Chávez for her outstanding essay!
Congratulations also go to Amanda Denes from the University of California, Santa Barbara, who was awarded the ORWAC Top Student Paper Award at the February 2011 Western States Communication Association conference, for her paper “Communicating for Sex: Problematic Narratives of Consent and Desire in the Pick-Up Artist Community.”
Other participants on ORWAC’s 2011 Top Paper Panel included:..
Sarah Jones, University of Nebraska, Lincoln
Emily Berg, University of Minnesota–Twin Cities
Mary Domenico, University of Colorado-Denver
Got ORWAC? You Can Now Purchase Your Membership Online!
New: You can now join ORWAC and pay for your membership online. Fill out the membership form included in this newsletter or go online at: http://www.orwac.org/membership.html
Also, please consider giving an ORWAC membership as a gift. Regular memberships are only $35.00 per year and Student memberships are just $15.00 per year. Introduce a student or colleague to our discipline or support a young scholar.
Research Grant Recipients: Research Reports
ORWAC awarded three research grants in 2010 to Dr. Sara McKinnon, Alyssa Samek, and Kathleen de Onis. Below are some excerpts from their grant reports, and how the grants helped them complete their research.
Sara McKinnon, Visiting Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication Arts at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, was awarded the research grant in the lecturer/tenure-track/tenured professor category. She writes:
I would like to thank ORWAC for generously supporting my research in Denmark and Sweden. I recently returned from a three week research trip doing qualitative research with asylum seekers to investigate the gendered messages that circulate in Danish and Swedish societies about asylum seekers, and how asylum seekers themselves make sense of such messages. In particular, I gained insight into the constructions of immigrant masculinity in these countries, as well as a better sense of the discourse of integration as it plays out in the lives of asylum seekers. I hope to be writing about all of this soon for the ORWAC readership!
Alyssa Samek, our grant recipient in the Ph.D. student category, completed archival research for her dissertation project. She reports success in finding excellent archival documents:
I conducted research at two archival institutions in and around Los Angeles, California including the June L. Mazer Lesbian Archives, a grassroots archive located in West Hollywood and the ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives near the University of Southern California. During these visits, I collected nearly 900 digital images of documents central to my study of lesbian-feminist public discourse including speeches, essays, and images published in a wide variety of lesbian-feminist periodicals over the course of the seventies. The extensive Mazer collection boasts a wide variety of lesbian and lesbian-feminist periodicals from California and across the country, including short-lived efforts from small Midwestern and Southern lesbian communities. At ONE I accessed several Los Angeles lesbian activist collections where I found drafts of speeches, notes from consciousness-raising meetings, and a variety of other materials relevant to my study. In short, the research trip was exciting and overwhelmingly successful. I would like to thank the board members of ORWAC once again for providing the funding necessary to complete this crucial step in my dissertation process.
Our final grant recipient, Kathleen de Onis, focused on reproductive justice issues for Latinas, for her master’s thesis at the University of Montana. Her project was titled “Salud, Dignidad y Justicia: Articulating “Choice” and “Reproductive Justice” for Latinas in the United States.” She will be presenting on a related theme at the June 2011 Conference on Communication and the Environment (COCE). Her research findings continue on the following page.
According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the diverse demographic of Latinas and immigrant Latinas in the United States constitutes the largest growing racial group in this country—one that is confronted by intersectional reproductive health needs and systemic barriers eroding Latinas’ well-being and that of their families. These obstacles include anti-woman and anti-immigrant sentiment, cultural and linguistic barriers, fears regarding discovery of undocumented status, and inadequate access to and funding for vital health care services.
In response to present-day exigencies encountered by marginalized women, my M. A. thesis explored the rhetorical evolution of the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health. I analyzed eight texts from the reproductive justice advocacy group spanning a period of nearly two decades. Through examining the organization’s employment of key ideographs—language terms which Michael Calvin McGee (1980) argues are the building blocks of ideology—I uncovered three findings. First, while diverse, English-speaking Latinas desire the ability to make choices and use the term “choice” to express both the presence and especially absence of choices, “reproductive justice” is a term that must be kept at the forefront of reproductive rights agenda-setting to ensure that eradication of poverty and discrimination is prioritized. As such, securing “reproductive justice” is a precondition for exercising real “choices.” Second, because of linguistic and cultural differences, “reproductive justice” (translated “justicia reproductiva”) is a term that resonates with Spanish-speaking Latinas; meanwhile, “choice” (approximately translated “derecho a eligir” or “pro-elección”) fails to capture the same significance in Spanish as it carries in English. Third, my analysis illumined the salience of acknowledging the intersectional abortion rights concerns of Latinas, especially immigrant Latinas. This requires that limited transportation, linguistic and cultural differences, and undocumented status be considered in conjunction with the health care service of abortion. As a result, while a comprehensive approach to movement-building is often essential for meeting the multi-faceted needs and issues confronted by marginalized women, at times it may be necessary to center efforts on a particular concern in response to key exigencies necessitating change—in this case abortion rights broadly constructed for immigrant Latinas.
Based on these findings, I conclude it is imperative that language terms be employed strategically, as both feminist scholars and activists consider audience, associated ideologies, and the implications of our discursive choices when discussing the reproductive rights of diverse women. Despite continued efforts to oppress Latinas and their immigrant Latina sisters, the fight for “reproductive justice” must continue, as women and men from all backgrounds and interests unite in the common pursuit of salud, dignidad y justicia….health, dignity, and justice for all.
If you would like a copy of Kathleen’s thesis, please e-mail her at kathleen.deonis@umontana.edu.
Congratulations to our recent research grant recipients for their outstanding contributions to the study of women and communication! Be sure to check out the 2011 call for ORWAC’s Research Development Grant proposals in this newsletter. Applications are due by July 1, 2011.
ORWAC Call for Papers: Western States Communication Annual Convention
February 17-21, 2012
The Organization for Research on Women and Communication invites submissions for program proposals and competitive papers for the Western States Communication Association conference to be held in Albuquerque, NM (February 17-21, 2012). ORWAC seeks submissions that speak to both its emphasis on research regarding women and intersectionality, gender, feminism, and the convention theme of “striving for social change.” Of particular interest are papers and programs that address the challenges and possibilities for social justice and social transformation, especially for disenfranchised and under-served communities, as well contemporary issues such as citizenship, globalization, and new media technologies as they relate to women, gender, and feminist activism.
Paper submission guidelines: ORWAC does not accept works in progress nor should papers have been previously presented or published, or be accepted for presentation or publication. Authors who have not previously presented a paper at a conference or published in a journal should mark their papers as “Debut” in the upper right-hand corner of the title page as well as indicate their status (e.g., bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral student). All student submissions should be marked as “Student” for consideration of the “Top Student Paper” award.
Paper submissions should adhere to the following: 1) A title page that includes the paper’s title, names of all authors, affiliation(s), email address(es), phone number(s) as well an abstract of 250-500 words; 2) A paper not to exceed 30 pages, including references; 3) No information identifying the author(s) should appear beyond that which appears on the title page; and 4) Save each document—title page and paper—as a separate PDF.
Program Panel submission guidelines: 1) Thematic title of the program; 2) Description and rationale of program; 3) Title and brief description of each presentation or questions to be pursued by panelists; 4) Names, affiliations, email addresses and phone numbers of all participants. Alternative formats are encouraged as are innovative program proposals that provide opportunities for engaged interaction among participants and attendees; and 5) Save as a PDF.
To all submitters, please stipulate any requests for equipment. For additional details about the WSCA convention, please consult www.westcomm.org.
Finally, all submissions must be received by Diane M. Blair, Ph.D., President of ORWAC no later than September 1, 2011 in order to be considered. Forward documents electronically to: dblair@csufresno.edu (office phone 559-278-8578).
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ORWAC Webspinner, Dr. Brenda J. Allen, Associate Dean, College of Liberal Arts, University of Colorado Denver Question: How can I turn a conference paper into a publication? Any other advice for first time publishing? When you begin a research project, consult with your advisor and/or other faculty regarding the project’s viability as well as suggestions for potential publication outlet(s). Then, develop the project with the targeted journal(s) in mind. For instance, review the call for manuscripts and tailor the manuscript accordingly. Also, review the list of editorial board members for scholars whose work is similar to yours, and, where appropriate, refer to their work in your manuscript. To turn a conference paper into a publication, plan to submit a paper that you fully believe can be developed into a publication based on the advice above for first time publishing. If the paper is accepted, when you present it, take good notes from the respondent’s comments, and note any questions from the audience. If the respondent provides useful feedback, consider asking her/him to discuss the paper further with you, and to offer feedback on subsequent drafts. Also, follow up with the faculty member(s) you consulted. Question: What do hiring committees look for on an academic vitae? What can we do to increase our chances of getting an on-campus interview? They look for a fit between the candidate and their position. Therefore, although you should have a standard c.v., you also can tweak it to correspond with specific jobs. For instance, highlight courses that you’ve taught and/or taken that correspond with what the hiring department seeks. For graduate students applying for a tenure track position, committees like to see signs of a focused, productive research program that aligns with an area that matches their needs. For improving your chances of a campus interview, perceived fit matters. Write a cover letter that speaks specifically to how you believe you fit the position for which they are hiring. In addition to providing information that corresponds with what the job announcement cites, refer to department and university websites for additional insights.
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Ask the Oracle Column |
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The “Ask the Oracle” Column is a new feature of the ORWAC newsletter and website. This column poses questions from new faculty members and graduate students to senior scholars in the field of communication with the purpose of collaborating with students and offering insight and advice into academic life, scholarly writing and publishing, teaching, and other related areas. This newsletter issue’s questions were posed by Sarah Blithe, a graduate student at the University of Colorado, on behalf of ORWAC’s graduate student committee. |
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2011 Call for Applications: Research Development Grant The Organization for Research on Women and Communication invites submissions for the fourth annual Research Development Grant. Members are eligible to apply for one of three grants that support scholars at different levels of their career: Category 1 for M.A. students, Category 2 for PhD students, and Category 3 for instructors or tenure/track faculty.* Each grant offers a maximum of $1,000.00 Grants are designed to assist feminist scholars completing research or creative projects that privilege and advance understandings about the intersectionality and complexity defining women’s lives. Broadly speaking, submitted projects are those that chart new ground in disciplinary knowledge about women and gender; that offer insights about the challenges and negotiations confronted by women in light of intersecting identities; and/or that favor the voices, experiences, discourses, performances and lives of women. Applicants’ research projects may be at any stage at time of submission. Grant funds may be used, for example, to pay for: conducting interviews, data transcription, archival research whether for copying costs or travel to archives, clerical support, transportation and/or registration fees for a conference to present the submitted project, among other needs. Application Requirements: Be a current member of ORWAC (ORWAC membership is independent of WSCA and vice versa).
Submit a single document containing the completed application form, budget, and current curriculum vita. Grant applications retrievable from http://www.orwac.org. Forward application materials electronically to: Diane M. Blair, President, ORWAC (dblair@csufresno.edu); Office phone: 559-278-8578 Within one year of receipt of a grant, awardees agree to submit a one page report detailing the results of the submitted project and use of funds to the President, Diane Blair (dblair@csufresno.edu) Deadlines:
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ORWAC Officers President Diane M. Blair California State University, Fresno Vice President-Secretary Stacey K. Sowards University of Texas at El Paso Treasurer-Individual Membership Director Valerie Renegar San Diego State University Web Spinner Brenda J. Allen University of Colorado Denver WSIC Editor Valerie Fabj Lynn University Chair, Graduate Student Ad Hoc Committee |
Organization for Research on Women & Communication
Membership
The Organization for Research on Women and Communication (ORWAC) promotes dialogue, discussion, research, and scholarship concerned with women, feminism, gender, oppression, and social change. ORWAC is a Western States Communication Association (WSCA) affiliate, publishes the journal Women's Studies in Communication, and sponsors programs at the WSCA Convention.
ORWAC membership runs on an annual basis, from January to December. All memberships include a yearly subscription to Women’s Studies in Communication as well as the ORWAC newsletter. You do not need to be a member of WSCA to join ORWAC.
MEMBERSHIP INCLUDES:
- A subscription to Women's Studies in Communication.
- Receipt of a biannual newsletter.
- Possibility to apply for ORWAC’s Research Development Grant.
- A voice in managing the business affairs of ORWAC.
- Possible financial support for the WSCA Convention programs that involve guest speakers.
- An invitation to the annual ORWAC reception at WSCA convention.
_____ Regular: $35.00 _____ Student: $15.00
_____ 2 Years: $70.00 _____ 2 Years: $30.00
**Only complete this section if you are a new member or need to update your info. If this membership is a gift please fill out recipient’s contact information below and include your contact information on the back so that we can mail you a confirmation.
Name: _______________________________________________________________
Address: _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
Email Address: ________________________________________________________
Please make your check payable to ORWAC.
Mail completed form and check to: Dr. Valerie Renegar, School of Communication, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Dr., San Diego, CA 92182-4560
Or go to join online and pay using PayPal at: http://www.orwac.org/membership.html