Travelling seminar on masculinities

[Guest guest]

Dear FORUM,

The concept of 'masculinities', informed by recent feminist thought and the

women's movement, has emerged as a means of renewing feminist discourse by

encouraging a more relational approach to masculinities and femininities. This

also allows for the investigation, problematization and interrogation of

masculinity equally with femininity.

Not withstanding these enabling possibilities, however, " gender " is still

essentially deployed in contemporary social science discourse as a synonym for

women, its relational aspect obscured and the invitation to interrogate

masculinities largely ignored. This is unfortunate because a textured

understanding of the diversity of South Asian men's experiences, attitudes,

beliefs, practices, situations, sexualities and institutions is essential to not

only challenging the social dominance of men over women but for building a more

humane world.

Aakar, a Trust based in Delhi is organising a travelling seminar comprising of

academic papers, personal and activist anrratives and films to ten universities

across south Asia. The travelling seminar on masculinities has been conceived

from the position that the study of masculinities is important in that it is

'simultaneously a place in gender relations, the practices through which men and

women engage that place in gender, and the affects of these practices in bodily

experiences, personality and culture.' (Connell R.W, 1994:71)

Please find enclosed an announcement for a poster competition on the theme of

masculinities. We are seeking entries from students at art institutions across

south Asia to express themselves creatively on the theme.

A selection of these posters will be displayed as part of an exhibition during

the Exploring Masculinities: A Travelling Seminar that is to be held at ten

universities in Bangladesh, Nepal, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Details regarding the competition and the travelling seminar are available on

our web site: www.southasianmasculinities.org

We look forward to a creative response from students at your institution. Kindly

let us know if you require any further information or assistance. The last date

for receiving entries is 1 March, 2006.

The competition is being supported by the Resource Centre On Sexual Health And

HIV/AIDS.

For more information contact:

Rahul Roy

Aakar

A-19, Gulmohar Park

New Delhi 110049

Email: khel@...

www.southasianmasculinities.org