Australians studying Asia:
the ASAA 1976-1997

http://coombs.anu.edu.au/SpecialProj/ASAA/King/King01.html

Rebecca King

Chapter Six: The Women's Caucus

The Women's Caucus of the ASAA was formed at the instigation of Dr Lenore Manderson and Dr Gail Pearson[1] at the 1978 ASAA Conference[2]. At that conference a motion that the ASAA support a policy of affirmative action with regard to the employment of women in tertiary institutions was vehemently debated and carried[3]. The Caucus became officially affiliated with the ASAA at the December Council Meeting of 1982[4]. Its original purposes were to promote research and teaching on women in Asia and to promote the status of women within the Asian Studies profession[5], with a strong emphasis in the formative years on the position of women within the ASAA[6]. Although both aspects were originally given equal status, in 1987 it was recognised that the focus had moved to place more emphasis on academic study of women than on employment issues[7]. The formation of the group was directly linked to the affirmative action motion[8] and must be viewed in the context of a developing feminist movement within the Australian community as well as developing debates about the credibility of 'Women's studies' within international and national academia.

The Caucus has been successful in changing some of the culture of the Association[9]. The group has maintained a loose organisational structure and the non-continuous and irregular nature of its activities reflects this. There has been no formal membership apart from a subscription fee for the newsletters[10]. A core of women have remained active and influential in the group and most activities have depended on the enthusiasm and involvement of particular members.

The Women's Caucus newsletter began in 1981 and was planned as a quarterly newsletter edited by rotating teams of editors[11]. It did not always strictly follow this pattern[12] but the Caucus did produce a newsletter until June 1986. At the Canberra Women's Caucus AGM no editors were appointed and publication lapsed. The newsletter with a mailing list of over 100 names but only 50 individuals renewing subscriptions had not been covering costs[13]. At the 1986 AGM the decision was made to include Women's Caucus news in the Review rather than maintain a separate newsletter[14]. It was suggested that articles longer than short news items could be submitted to journals such as Australian Feminist Studies[15]. At a subsequent conference the notion of submitting news to the Review was reaffirmed but in addition it was decided to reintroduce a short newsletter[16]. A request for $1500 financial assistance for the 'Women in Asia' bulletin was discussed by the Council in 1995. The amount requested was argued to be high and it was moved and adopted that the Women's Caucus be offered $500 subject to satisfactory details of costing[17]. In recent years there has been an emphasis on integrating women's issues and activities into the main conferences, but Women's Caucus meetings are still held at ASAA conferences and separate 'Women in Asia' workshops/conferences have continued independent of ASAA conferences. In 1981 over 100 participants, including three overseas guests, attended some 30 papers and a general workshop at the first 'Women in Asia' workshop, held at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) 13-15 June[18]. A second 'Women in Asia' workshop was held at Monash University 22-24 July 1983. This meeting received $2000 for running costs from the Federal Ministry for Administrative Services. Panels concentrated on migrants, arts, the urban workforce, aid and development issues as well as theory. 141 people attended including Asian participants[19]. The third 'Women in Asia' workshop at the Australian National University (ANU) 11-13 July 1985 attracted 150 participants including nine overseas guests. It was organised by the Women's Caucus members in Canberra in conjunction with the Centre for Continuing Education at ANU, and had the theme of ideology and economics[20]. There were no volunteers to organise a 1987 'Women in Asia' conference which may be an acknowledgment that as the workshops became more popular, they grew in size, and organisation became more 'daunting'[21]. However in 1987 the Melbourne group of the Women's Caucus along with the Monash University's Centre for Southeast Asian Studies organised a one day conference 'Why Gender matters in Southeast Asian Politics'. Some 80 people including interstate visitors participated and seven papers were presented[22]. In 1988 it was decided to integrate panels on women's issues into ASAA conferences instead of holding separate national workshops[23]. It was not until 1993 that another separate 'Women in Asia' Conference was held. With a four fold increase in papers from the first conference almost 100 papers were delivered over 1-3 October 1993 at the University of Melbourne. Many international participants attended and there was an emphasis on women and the state[24]. It seemed clear that there was a demand for women to be supported and heard, and on October 3-5 1997 the fifth 'Women in Asia' Conference was held at UNSW[25] with the purpose of giving people an opportunity to talk about work in progress, giving postgraduate students a context in which to launch their careers, and allowing activists to be stimulated by one another[26].

Reports by the Women's Caucus members on the 'Women in Asia' conferences have generally been highly complimentary. These have been contrasted with mainstream ASAA and other academic conferences noting especially the supportive atmosphere and the diversity of participants attending. Conferences have been reported as lively and sophisticated with little pretentiousness and much constructive debate. Much of this cohesiveness and enthusiasm can be attributed to the small size of the conferences which have generally had a combination academic and activist nature[27]. Although the conferences have attracted mostly academics, there has also been participation by groups which the ASAA had always wished to attract: bureaucrats, journalists, poets, novelists, people from non-government organisations such as aid agencies, and ethnic community groups. There has been a significant involvement from the Asian region with issues of non-Asian women studying Asian women only recently creating less tension. The women's conferences have been mostly attended by women with few male participants. There has been an emphasis on encouraging younger scholars: undergraduate students were encouraged to attend the 1981 Conference and the 1992 Women's Caucus Day was planned especially with the interests of postgraduate students in mind. Not only have research papers been presented but also poetry and novel reading, documentary film screening, business/ networking meetings and work in progress reports[28].

Whether it is better to promote women's issues in a separate or in a mainstream forum had always been a question within the Women's Caucus[29]. No clear consensus has emerged and the Caucus has fulfilled both aspects. In addition to holding separate 'Women in Asia' Conferences the Women's Caucus has also contributed to the mainstream biennial ASAA conferences with general panels on women's and gender issues, through encouraging women to present papers within the general program and by holding Women's Caucus workshops and meetings during or following the conferences. It was noted specifically at a 1986 Women's Caucus Meeting that the participation of women in general sessions of ASAA is an effective means of influencing the ASAA[30]. The ASAA Women's Caucus workshop 15-16 February 1988 focussed on issues affecting women undertaking research, research on women in Asian countries and Asian women academics. Panels and programs on other women's issues were considered in the main conference program[31]. In 1990 a day-long meeting was incorporated in the biennial conference and presented sessions centred around issues of theory and methods of study of women in Asia[32]. At the following conference a Women's Caucus Day was held and again women's panels were included in the mainstream conference[33].

Besides 'Women in Asia' Conferences and participation in the ASAA Conferences the Women's Caucus has also undertaken other activities although usually at a state or more local level, for instance, seminars, visiting scholars' talks and social activities[34]. The locations of the 'Women in Asia' Conferences as well as the location of the newsletter editing teams reveal the same Melbourne/Sydney/Canberra bias in the Women's Caucus evident in the general membership. Victoria in particular appears to have been the core area of Women's Caucus activities.

Despite early indications that the Women's Caucus was to have a political lobbying role, for example encouraging interaction between women working in non-government organisations and government aid agencies[35], this aspect of the Women's Caucus has not been developed. At the Women's Caucus AGM in 1984 Ilse Soegito volunteered for the National Library to become a centre for resources on women's development but the Caucus suggested that it would be more appropriate for the ASAA Information Resources Working Group to take on the project[36]. The informal nature of the Women's Caucus may have limited the role in lobbying. At the October 1997 Women's Caucus meeting discussion was held about the feasibility of setting up a small group to lobby against the racist attitudes generated by Pauline Hanson, which had been the topic of a plenary session at the 'Women in Asia' Conference. A wide ranging discussion took place in which the purpose of the Caucus as an academic or political body was at issue[37].

The Women's Caucus has had a major role lobbying within the ASAA, attempting to redress the proportionally large number of males on the Executive and Council. Generally at early Women's Caucus meetings at biennial conferences one activity was to ensure women nominated for Council positions[38]. This has not been evident at the recent conferences, as women have become more relaxed or confident about nominations. A major initiative was at the 1984 Adelaide Meeting where fifty women attended and supported the successful nominations of Elaine McKay as President and Dr Christine Inglis as Secretary[39]. In this way the Caucus has served to raise consciousness and has provided a sisterhood to encourage women to run for office in the ASAA. Until the Women's Caucus began such promotion of women in the Association, the ASAA was mostly run by men, despite the quite substantial numbers of women members[40].

In many ways the Women's Caucus has become less militant than it was during its early years with much of the dissatisfaction, and in some quarters anger, having dissipated. The feeling of being part of a marginalised minority has weakened partly due to there being greater numbers of women in academia and also more literature on women in Asia[41]. The changing nature of the Women's Caucus must also be viewed in terms of changing general and feminist community standards and expectations, but the desire to promote research on Asian women, maintain contact with colleagues and support postgraduate students remains paramount[42].

Footnotes

[1] Phone conversation with Susan Blackburn (formerly Susan Abeyasekere), 26th August 1997.

[2] Third Biennial ASAA Conference, Griffith University, 24-29 August, 1980.

[3] A motion at the same meeting regarding the encouragement of Australian appointees was not carried. 'Minutes of the Biennial General Meeting of the ASAA held on Tues 26 August 1980 at Griffith University, Brisbane'. In folder labelled 'Council and Exec Meetings 1978-80', MS8054, 13/9/88 consignment, box 3 of 6. Conversation with Elaine McKay, Canberra, 4th June 1997.

[4] Ingleson, J, 'Report on ASAA Council Meeting, 5 December 1982', ASAA Review, vol6, no3, April, 1983, pp63-65, p64.

[5] Manderson, L, 'ASAA Women's Caucus: Women in Asia Workshop', ASAA Review, vol5, no2, November, 1981, pp48-50, p48.

[6] Conversation with Elaine McKay, Canberra, 4th June 1997. Conversation with Susan Blackburn, Sydney, 4th October 1997.

[7] Phone conversation with Susan Blackburn, 26th August 1997. 'Minutes of the Meeting of the Council of the Asian Studies Association of Australia 1 August 1987 at the University of Sydney'. Private papers of John Ingleson.

[8] 'Women's Caucus', ASAA Review, vol4, no2, November, 1980, pp62-63, p62.

[9] Conversation with Helen Jarvis, Sydney, 4th August 1997.

[10] Conversation with Susan Blackburn, Sydney, 4th October 1997. Blackburn, S, 'Meeting of the Women's Caucus of the Asian Studies Association of Australia', handout at the fifth 'Women in Asia' Conference of the Women's Caucus of the ASAA, UNSW, October 3-5 1997.

[11] Manderson, L, 'ASAA Women's Caucus: Women in Asia Workshop', ASAA Review, vol5, no2, November, 1981, pp48-50, p48. In 1992 a directory of Women Asianists was published. Asian Studies Association of Australia Women's Caucus, Directory of women academics on Asia, Kensington, NSW, 1992.

[12] Three newsletters had been produced over the past year according to this report. Abeyasekere, S, 'Annual Report on activities of the Womens Caucus of the ASAA', 18 November 1984, (attachment 7 for ASAA Council meeting, Friday 30 November, 1984, University of New South Wales, 10 am). Private papers of John Ingleson.

[13] Abeyasekere, S, 'Women's Caucus of the ASAA: Report to the ASAA Council Meeting, 21 November 1986', 11 November 1986. Private Papers of Helen Jarvis. 'Womens Caucus of the ASAA held at the ASAA Conference at Sydney University 15 May 1986'. In folder labelled 'ASAA Conference 1988: ASAA Council', MS8054, 24/7/92 consignment, box 3 of 4. At the 1984 Women's Caucus AGM it was reported that of 150 newsletters sent out in May only 84 had been paid for. 'Minutes of the Annual General Meeting of the Women's Caucus of the Asian Studies Association of Australia held on Monday 14th May, 1984 at 1.00pm at the ASAA Conference, Adelaide University'. Private papers of John Ingleson.

[14] 'Women's Caucus', ASAA Review, vol10, no1, July, 1986, p93.

[15] 'Womens Caucus of the ASAA held at the ASAA Conference at Sydney University 15 May 1986'. In folder labelled 'ASAA Conference 1988: ASAA Council ', MS8054, 24/7/92 consignment, box 3 of 4.

[16] Keating, P, 'ASAA Women's Caucus Workshop', ASAA Review, vol11, no3, April, 1988, pp58-59, p59. Leigh, B, 'Association of Asian Studies Women's Caucus Sydney', June 1988. Private Papers of Helen Jarvis. Seventh Biennial ASAA Conference (Bicentennial conference of the ASAA), Australian National University, 11-15 February, 1988.

[17] The Women's Caucus was also offered a half-page of space in the Review at no cost and sticky labels for posting the 'Women in Asia' Bulletin. Council Minutes ('yet to be confirmed'), 19 August 1995. (http://www.ssn.flinders.edu.au/asian/council/coun95-3.htm) (15/2/1997).

[18] Manderson, L, 'ASAA Women's Caucus: Women in Asia Workshop', ASAA Review, vol5, no2, November, 1981, pp48-50, p48.

[19] Abeyasekere, S, 'Women's Caucus', ASAA Review, vol7, no1, July, 1983, pp58-59, p58.

[20] Telex from Susan Abeyasekere to Ian Black, 27 November 1985, (attachment for item 13 for the ASAA Meeting of Council, Friday 29 November 1985, at the University of New South Wales). Private papers of John Ingleson.

[21] 'Womens Caucus of the ASAA held at the ASAA Conference at Sydney University 15 May 1986'. In folder labelled 'ASAA Conference 1988: ASAA Council ', MS8054, 24/7/92 consignment, box 3 of 4.

[22] Sen, K, 'Why Gender matters in Southeast Asian Politics', ASAA Review, vol11, no3, April, 1988, pp62-63, p62. Stivens, M (ed), Why Gender matters in Southeast Asian politics, Monash Papers on Southeast Asia, Centre for Southeast Asian Studies, Monash University, no23, c1991.

[23] Keating, P, 'ASAA Women's Caucus Workshop', ASAA Review, vol11, no3, April, 1988, pp58-59, p59. 'Minutes ASAA Council Meeting, Wednesday 10 February 1988 at the ANU'. Private papers of John Ingleson.

[24] Blackburn, S, 'Women and the State in Asia: Introduction', Asian Studies Review, vol17, no3, April, 1994, pp1-5. This issue includes a selection of papers from the 1993 'Women in Asia' Conference.

[25] Conversation with Jan Elliott, Sydney, 15th July, 1997.

[26] Author's observations. Jean Gelman-Taylor opening the First Plenary Session, 4 October 1997, at the fifth 'Women in Asia' Conference of the Women's Caucus of the ASAA, UNSW, October 3-5 1997.

[27] Manderson, L, 'ASAA Women's Caucus: Women in Asia Workshop', ASAA Review, vol5, no2, November, 1981, pp48-50, p48. Branson, J, 'Women in Asia', Arena, no64, 1983, pp35-39, p36. Conversation with Helen Jarvis, Sydney, 4th August 1997.

[28] Manderson, L, 'ASAA Women's Caucus: Women in Asia Workshop', ASAA Review, vol5, no2, November, 1981, pp48-50, p48. Conversation with Helen Jarvis, Sydney, 4th August 1997. 'ASAA Conference 1992: Women's Caucus Day', Asian Studies Review, vol15, no2, November, 1991, p234. 'Forthcoming Conferences', Asian Studies Review, vol17, no1, July, 1993, pp171-174, p172. Of the 141 participants at the 1983 'Women in Asia' Conference 140 were female. Branson, J, 'Women in Asia', Arena, no64, 1983, pp35-39, pp36, 38. Phone conversation with Susan Blackburn, 26th August 1997. Hardacre, H, 'Women's Caucus Day', Asian Studies Review, vol14, no2, November, 1990, pp176-178, p178. Conversation with Susan Blackburn, Sydney, 4th October 1997.

[29] Phone conversation with Susan Blackburn, 26th August 1997.

[30] 'Womens Caucus of the ASAA held at the ASAA Conference at Sydney University 15 May 1986'. In folder labelled 'ASAA Conference 1988: ASAA Council ', MS8054, 24/7/92 consignment, box 3 of 4.

[31] Keating, P, 'ASAA Women's Caucus Workshop', ASAA Review, vol11, no3, April, 1988, pp58-59.

[32] Hardacre, H, 'Women's Caucus Day', Asian Studies Review, vol14, no2, November, 1990, pp176-178, p176.

[33] 'ASAA Conference 1992: Women's Caucus Day', Asian Studies Review, vol15, no2, November, 1991, p234.

[34] For instance, in 1983 in Victoria, a Christmas gathering was held with the Filipino Wives Association and there was a seminar on Women in China. 'Minutes of the Annual General Meeting of the Women's Caucus of the Asian Studies Association of Australia held on Monday 14th May, 1984 at 1.00pm at the ASAA Conference, Adelaide University'. Private papers of John Ingleson.

[35] Manderson, L, 'ASAA Women's Caucus: Women in Asia Workshop', ASAA Review, vol5, no2, November, 1981, pp48-50, p48.

[36] 'Minutes of the Annual General Meeting of the Women's Caucus of the Asian Studies Association of Australia held on Monday 14th May, 1984 at 1.00pm at the ASAA Conference, Adelaide University'. Private papers of John Ingleson. Handwritten note to John Ingleson regarding '2 items which came out at the Women's Caucus meeting at the Women in Asia conference', nd. Private papers of John Ingleson.

[37] Author's observations, 4 October 1997, at the fifth 'Women in Asia' Conference of the Women's Caucus of the ASAA, UNSW, October 3-5 1997.

[38] Abeyasekere, S, 'Women's Caucus of the ASAA: Report to the ASAA Council Meeting, 21 November 1986', 11 November 1986. Private Papers of Helen Jarvis. Conversation with Helen Jarvis, Sydney, 4th August 1997.

[39] Phone conversation with Susan Blackburn, 26th August 1997. Conversation with Elaine McKay, Canberra, 4th June 1997.

[40] Susan Blackburn estimates the female membership of the ASAA to be less than half, but in no way represented proportionally in Council and Executive positions. Phone conversation with Susan Blackburn, 26th August 1997. Conversation with Helen Jarvis, Sydney, 4th August 1997.

[41] For a discussion of the ASAA Women in Asia Publications Series, see Chapter Eight: Publications Series.

[42] Conversation with Susan Blackburn, Sydney, 4th October 1997.

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