CALL FOR PAPERS (DEADLINE: 1 DECEMBER 2010)
Householding in Transition:
Emerging Dynamics in 'Developing' East and Southeast Asia
Date: 25 - 26 Jul 2011
Venue: Asia Research Institute, National University of Singapore
Website: http://www.ari.nus.edu.sg/events_categorydetails.asp?categoryid=6&eventid=1092
Jointly organized by the Asia Research Institute, National University of Singapore, Centre for Developing Areas Research, Department of Geography (Royal Holloway, University of London) and IGU Commission on Gender and Geography.
In recent decades, dramatic social and economic changes have swept the 'developing' East and Southeast Asian region, having profound implications for household structures and their members' everyday lives. Drawing on Douglass' (2006) concept of 'householding' this workshop seeks to enhance understanding
of the challenges being faced in the creation and sustaining of household-level social processes that cover all life-cycle stages and extend beyond the family. The workshop covers three broad themes of the up most contemporary and regional salience, namely (non)marriage and divorce; inter-generational questions
concerning ageing and care; and finally, issues surrounding migration and the 'left behind'.
Bringing together scholars working on these interconnected trends, the workshop aims to shed light on the changing household structures and dynamics which are increasingly shaping the domestic landscapes of some of Asia's lesser understood country contexts (including Burma, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Laos, Thailand, The Philippines, and Vietnam).
These are countries defined as falling in the United Nations 'medium' and 'low' human development index 2009/2010. Identifying differences and commonalities in terms of patterns and experiences, the workshop has been designed to encourage a comparative country perspective (whilst also being sensitive to household variations in terms of type and headship, gender, age, life-course, and rural/urban differentiation).
We welcome papers that draw on innovative and original empirical research that speak to current theoretical and conceptual debates on the 'household'. Among other themes, papers should address one or more of the following topics concerning household trends in 'developing' East and Southeast Asia:
(1) (Non)Marital and Divorcee Householding
This theme considers the stark and recent occurrence of rising rates, particularly in urban areas, of non-marriage, separation and divorce and what this means in terms of cause, effect and experiences. Papers in this panel should pave the way for the discussion and development of household models which not only concern themselves with the so-called 'functioning' of domestic affairs but also the 'bargaining' that occurs in the process of household dissolution as part of the dynamism, variability and mutability of home that has been largely sidelined in academic debate.
(2) Intergenerational Householding: Ageing and Care
Given that East and Southeast Asia has the largest number of older persons in the world, ageing and its implications for eldercare is a critical theme. With ageing still regarded centrally as a family concern in most countries in the region, the changing ability of families to care for and support older members within the broader context of state and community welfare systems is an issue that should be the central focus of papers in this panel.
(3) Mobile Householding: Migration and the 'Left Behind'
Extending debates on the emerging dynamics of (non)-marriage, this theme focuses on the impact of migration on householding in East and Southeast Asia as a hotspot of human mobility both internationally, at an intra-regional level, and within national borders. Papers should discuss, among other issues, household composition as determinants of migration, householding negotiations created by the movement of people away from the
residential unit, to new household units (for example, as foreign 'mail order' brides or domestic workers) and
potentially back again, and the implications of such movements as key constituent (or disruption) of households
(and types).
SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS
Paper proposals should include a title, an abstract (300 words max.) and a short bio-note of the author(s) (200 words).
Please submit and address all applications and enquiries to Miss Sharon Ong (arios[atmark]nus.edu.sg)
by 1 December 2010.
Click here for the Abstract Proposal Form
<http://www.ari.nus.edu.sg/showfile.asp?eventfileid=586>.
Successful applicants will be notified by 17 January 2011 and will be required to send in a completed paper (5,000-6,000 words) by 31 May 2011. Selected papers will be developed and included in one of two special issue journals commissioned for the workshop.
CONTACT DETAILS
Organising Committee
Dr Katherine Brickell
Department of Geography, Royal Holloway, University of London
A/P Shirlena Huang
Department of Geography, National University of Singapore
Prof Gavin Jones
Asia Research Institute and Department of Sociology, National University of Singapore
Prof Brenda Yeoh
Asia Research Institute, Department of Geography and Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences, National University of Singapore
Secretariat
Miss Sharon Ong
Asia Research Institute, National University of Singapore
#10-01 Tower Block,469A Bukit Timah Road, Singapore 259770
Email: arios[atmark]nus.edu.sg
Tel: (65) 6516 8784
Fax: (65) 6779 1428
