Democracy on the Margins: Gender, Citizenship, and the Global Challenge to Democratic Freedoms

20th Annual Women's History Conference at Sarah Lawrence College
Free and Open to the Public
March 3-4, 2018

People who have historically been most excluded from the benefits of democratic citizenship are precisely those who have demanded that democratic nations live up to their professed ideals. This year, the 20th Annual Women's History conference will expand upon college’s yearlong discussion of the theme “Democracy and Education” by examining the challenges faced by those who live, work, and struggle on the margins of democracy. We will interrogate the history of democracy and the interplay between citizenship, race, gender, sexuality and inequality.  We ask: if we agree that equality is an important component of a liberal democracy, what impact does structural and systemic inequality have on an individual’s ability to experience the full range of democratic freedoms?  What are the dimensions of birthright and naturalized citizenship? What are the ways in which citizenship is taken from marginalized groups and what are the implications of this withdrawal?

We invite proposals that address these questions from a number of different angles. Proposals for panels will be given special consideration, but individual papers are also welcomed.  In particular, we encourage activists to submit proposals for a plenary session on “Democracy and Activism”. Please include a description of each presentation and a one page c.v. for each presenter. Email submissions are preferred. Deadline December 22, 2017.