Africa: Agenda journal on Family Politics - Call for abstracts

Call for Abstracts
To contribute to the upcoming Agenda journal on Family Politics

At the forefront of feminist publishing in South Africa for 20 years, the Agenda journal raises debate around women’s rights and gender issues. The journal encourages critical thinking, debate and social activism and strengthens the capacity of women and men to challenge gender discrimination and injustices.

The IBSS/SAPSE accredited and peer reviewed journal will be published in mid-November 2008.

This journal issue aims to put a spotlight on the concept of motherhood, fatherhood and the family as a “constructed” phenomenon; mediated, understood and practiced by its varied peoples. The human race places high value on the family, dubbing it ‘one of the most crucial social institutions for child rearing’. Alongside family worth are expectations and undocumented laws on the role and responsibility of the family. The mother and her “good” qualities are at the core of the debate. Issues of parenthood vis-à-vis fatherhood and motherhood are embedded in these discussions.

With an intention to particularly capture and examine motherhood and ‘family policies’ of the South, this journal investigate a number of issues including definitions of ‘family’, absent fathers vs. absent mothers, perceptions/realities of working mothers, the politics of breast feeding, the politics of adoption, unearthing motherhood myths, testing a long standing stereotype - “mothers are apolitical”, the representation of mothers/family in the media, contemporary women’s suppressive aspects of motherhood, ambiguity of parenthood, young mothers/forced into the role of mother, gay families and parenthood, maternity/paternity leave, the ‘ideal’ mother, motherhood and sexuality, surrogate mothers.
We would also like to receive abstracts for articles that will investigate the need for special courts that specifically deal with rape; the trend of ‘grooming victims’ by perpetrators; the reason for South Africa’s high rape crime rate; how committed African governments are to counter rape; the situation of men as survivors of rape - if there is not legislation around it, can men legally be raped?
We invite contributors from all over the African continent and other countries in the South to write on the above-mentioned topics from either a research or an activism perspective.

Abstracts and contributions must be written in English language and a style accessible to a wide audience. Please submit abstracts to guest editor Kristin Palitza, [email][email protected]

All abstract submissions must:
Specify the specific key area you would like to write on;
Count 200-300 words;
Include contact details: your name, institution/organisation, telephone, email and the country in which you reside/country of origin.
Deadline: Please submit no later than 6 August 2008.