College of Human Sciences

Unisa to be the official academic partner of the 10th WCWS

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Unisa will be the academic partner of the 10th World Conference on Women's Studies (WCWS), which will take place in Colombo, Sri Lanka, from 30 to 31 May 2024.

The World Conference on Women's Studies aims to improve participants' knowledge of global feminisms, the theoretical, policy and personal dimensions of women's studies scholar activism worldwide, the intersecting fields of gender and sexuality studies, and the many disciplines that constitute women's studies.

Lefatshe Moagi from the Department of Political Sciences under the College of Human Sciences is one of the Unisa Scientific Committee delegates. She will facilitate conference themes under the subheading "Change-makers: Women's studies scholars-activism across the disciplines" and a symposium on the challenges of African women. Her co-delegates include Prof Letseka, Moeketsi (UNESCO Chair), Khutsoane Keabetswe Brooke (Department of Gender and Sexuality Studies), Ramulumo Moleboheng (College of Education, Department of Science and Technology Education), Ramalepe Lebogang (Department of Gender and Sexuality Studies) and Mpho-Entle Modise (College of Education).

Moagi will be presenting a paper entitled "Intersectionality as a theory in analysing immigrant women's impact in the informal sector in the region of Southern Africa". She says that because her key interest is immigrant women, her paper will focus on the many disadvantages immigrant women experience in the informal sector in southern Africa. Moagi uses intersectionality as a theory of analysis.

She believes that the academic partnership of the conference is an excellent opportunity for the university. "This conference will boost Unisa's international academic credentials, ranking and research," she said. Adding: "It also aligns with the VC's vision to develop women's research and academic skills. The conference will give Unisa a platform in Southern Asia to showcase the academic excellence it has achieved in its 150 years of existence."

She also mentions that the conference is an incentive for fellow researchers, especially those who specialise in gender-based violence. "Because research is Unisa's core mandate, we hope the research presented at the conference will address the challenges scholars face." Moagi further elaborates that as a member of the South African Department of Women, Youth, Children and People Living with Disability's national platform on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide, she will deliberate with internal audiences on the oppression of African women and children as a marginalised group. It will allow for the funding of more research on GBVF in Africa.

The Unisa Scientific Committee will depart for Colombo on 26 April 2024. Through a range of dynamic and engaging sessions, the conference will provide a platform for sharing ideas, forging new partnerships and generating innovative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges.

* By Nnana Ledile Jege, College of Human Sciences

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Publish date: 2024/01/22

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