Widespread in India, China, and Vietnam, sex selection abortion is now also common in Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia.
CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
DISCUSSION SERIES:
PRESENTED BY THE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS PROGRAM POLITICAL SCIENCE DEPARTMENT WEDNESDAYS, 6:00 - 7:15 P.M. KIRKHOF CENTER, PERE MARQUETTE ROOM SEPTEMBER 24 Why Men Rule: Variations and Explanations What do current data tell us about female political leadership around the world? Why are Rwanda, Cuba and Sweden leading the way while the U.S. lags behind, with female leadership rates similar to that of the United Arab Emirates and Morocco? What explains the variation? How important are gender stereotypes and cultural explanations? What is the impact of rules and institutions on female representation? Participants:
Professor Polly Diven (Political Science, IR Program Director) Professor Heather Tafel (Political Science) Professor Laura Schneider (Political Science)
OCTOBER 1 International Sex Selection Abortion: Causes and Controversies The video “It’s a Girl” and the book “Unnatural Selection” have attempted to draw greater attention to the phenomenon of sex selective abortion. Widespread in India, China, and Vietnam, sex selection abortion is now also common in Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. What are the pressures on women who abort female fetuses? Is technology to blame? What does the future hold for countries with “too many” boys? Facilitator: Participants:
Professor Polly Diven (Political Science, IR Program Director) Professor Debjani Chakravarty (Women and Gender Studies) Professor Sonia Dalmia, (Economics, Director of Assessment)
OCTOBER 15 Is “Culture” an Excuse for Abuse? Preserving Cultural Diversity while Protecting Human Rights Can the idea of cultural rights be compatible with the concept of “inherent” human rights? When traditional practices violate universal human rights, what should be preserved and what should be changed? Who decides? This topic applies to a wide range of issues, including traditional practices that limit access to political participation, property ownership, and education. The clash between human rights and traditional culture also arise during conversations about child marriage and female genital mutilation. Facilitator: Participants:
Professor Rich Hiskes (Political Science, Honors College) Professor Debjani Chakravarty (Women and Gender Studies) Professor Andrew Schlewitz (Area Studies, Political Science) Professor Karen Zivi (Honors College)
Co-sponsored by Women and Gender Studies, Brooks College of Interdisciplinary Studies Women’s Center Meijer Honors College
LIB 100/201 APPROVED
