Graduate Consortium of Women's Studies: International Faculty Exchange

International Faculty Exchange - Summer 2001

Workshop on Teaching Methodology and Research in Interdisciplinary Gender Studies

July 22-28, 2001
Fudan University
Shanghai, P.R.C.

Within the academic world, consortia are frequently initiated by administrators seeking to extend their programmatic offerings by pooling resources with nearby institutions. Because so many women's studies programs and centers operate on shoestring budgets, they have frequently formed networks or consortia. The Graduate Consortium in Women's Studies at Radcliffe, however, is unique among women's studies consortia in the United States in that it was initiated by feminist scholars in order to extend their research through interdisciplinary collaboration in the classroom. We believe that our experience in building interinstitutional and interdepartmental partnerships on the basis of intellectual interests can be of value to women's studies scholars in the People's Republic of China (PRC) and can assist them in developing the resources and curriculum necessary to further institutionalize women's studies within the Chinese academy.

Project Directors:
Christina Gilmartin and Laura Roskos

Participants

group photo

The participants: Botom Row (left to right) Wang Jufen, Ni Huifan, Zhang Mingyun, Patricia Arend, Wang Hongwei, Modhumita Roy, Laura Roskos, Wang Jinling, Sharlene Hesse-Biber, Xu Yanli, Zheng Guizhen, Du Fangqin; Middle Row (left to right) Shi Fang, Yan Guangfen, Chen Yan, Yang Yi, Fan Rualan, Wang Qin, Yin Qin, Guo Huimin, Chris Gilmartin, Leung Pik-Ki, Gao Jianxiu, Gordana Rabrenovic, Chen Wei, Lin Hong, Wei Manhua, Ann Tang; Top Row (left to right) Ma Xiaodong, Han Henan, Chen Yuexin, Hu Wei, Zhang Yanbing, Jiao Yang, Wang Zheng, Jie Aihua, Pan Wen Lan, Tong Xin, Xu Min, Xueping Zhong, Hu Aiqun, Chen Yu.

Missing from photo: Guo Aimei, Shi Suo Hua, Yi Zhaoying, Sun Zhongxin, Tan Lin, Dong Weizhen, Peggy Kong, Lin DonXiao, Hu Yukun, Isis Wu, Kang Hongjin

Itinerary and Photos

Saturday, July 14

Shanghai skyline Team members assemble in Shanghai at Fudan University Guest House (located inside the gates of the university). If our contacts in Shanghai know the details of your arrival, then they will plan to have someone meet you at the airport or train station.

Shanghai skyline The contrasting skylines of Shanghai

Nanjing shopping street in Shanghai --"Mao watches for everyone!"

Sunday, July 15

school children
Take train to Nanjing in the morning; afternoon sightseeing in Nanjing. Early to bed. We will stay at the Hopkins-Nanjing Center (Nanda Zhong Mei Zhongxin, corner of Shanghai Lu and Beijing Xi Lu)

Photo: Schoolchildren posing in the courtyard of the Museum to the Victims of the Massacre at Nanjing

paper crames Paper cranes left by Japanese visitors to the Museum to the Victims of the Massacre at Nanjing

Monday, July 16

Morning meeting with faculty from Ginling Women's College; afternoon meeting with women's studies research faculty from Nanjing University arranged by colleagues at the Johns Hopkins Center; at about 5 or 6 pm grab the bus to Hangzhou. There we will stay at Xihu Guobing Guan (West Lake State Guest House).

Tuesday, July 17

buddha statue Morning sightseeing in Hangzhou; afternoon meet with faculty from Zhejiang University. Reception with vice-mayor of Hangzhou at 6pm; supper with sister city delegation at 6:30pm (at hotel). This event is being organized by Shigen Du.

Chris and statue Workshop co-director Chris Gilmartin with statue of Qui Jin, heroine of (and martyr to) the 1911 Revolution.

The boathouse at the West Lake State Hotel where our "sister-city" banquet was held

Major of Hangzhou Sharlene receives gifts and greetings from Chen Zhonghua, Vice Mayor of Hangzhou.

Okura Garden A beautiful summer evening on the terrace at the Okura Garden Hotel, overlooking the old French quarter of Shanghai. Far right, our host, David Orenstein; far left, projet assistant Isis Wu.

Wednesday, July 18

Morning return from Hangzhou; welcome dinner hosted by Peng XiZhe (noon); afternoon sundown cocktail party sponsored by the Shanghai Harvard Club, 6:30pm - 8:00pm at the Third Floor Terrace of the Okura Garden Hotel, 58 Mao Mong Road So.

Thursday, July 19

Dress company garden Morning visit to textile factory in Pudong district to be arranged by Ma Xiaodong; afternoon visit with women writers and critics with dinner afterwards

Shanghai Lin Xie Dress Co, Ltd. New organic garden for employee cafeteria (most employees live on premises).

Ling Feng (second from left), General Managerof Jix Xie Dress Co. , a member of the ten woman co-op that founded the company in 1981.

group photo

Workshop Schedule

Sunday, July 22

Workshop Opening Participant Check-in (3:00-5:00 p.m.)
Kick-off dinner (5:00-7:00 p.m.)

After dinner program to discuss evaluation and assessment (7:00-8:00 p.m.)

Photo: Opening night dinner for participants at Magnolia Hotel.

Monday, July 23

[workshop begins: all sessions held at Center for American Studies, Fudan U.]

Morning Session (9:00-12:00 noon)

"Historical Context and Definition of US Women's Studies"
(this session will be open to the invited public)

Afternoon Session (2:30-5:00)

"Women's Experience and the Analytic Category of Gender"

Optional Evening Activity

Research Roundtable for Chinese Participants

gender session Photo: A breakfast group of participants discuss the usefulness of gender as a category of analysis.

Tuesday, July 24

Morning Session (9:00-12:00 noon)

"Representations of Women in the Mass Media"

(this session will be open to the invited public)

Afternoon Session (2:30-5:00 p.m.)

"Women's Activism in Response to Stresses on the Family: Consumerism and the Global Economy"

Gordana and Jang Photo: Gordana works with Jang to prepare for the session on women's activism.

Optional Evening Activity

Screening and discussion of feminist advocacy and activist videos produced in the U.S.

prof. Wang Photo: Professor Wang Jufen takes notes comparing family budgets in the U.S. and P.R.C. during session on Consumerism and the Global Economy.