PROPOSAL TYPE
Roundtable
SEEKING
- Seeking General Feedback and Interest
- Seeking Additional Presenters
- Seeking Specific Expertise
RELATED TOPICS
- Environmental Sustainability
- Oral History
- Social Justice
ABSTRACT
I would like to discuss an open access oral history digital archive titled Feminists Shifting Paradigms for Environmental Social Justice. It includes rich information from the perspectives of environmental justice activists, including their motivations, personal backgrounds, education, and community involvement – and how global warming has impacted their communities. The interviews include personal reflections relating to the activists’ mentors and supporters, and how they overcame challenges on-the-ground to develop and expand their work.
DESCRIPTION
I selected “roundtable” above (but I am open to other suggested formats) because I am looking for panelists from different disciplines who would be interested in commenting on how the creation of story maps, visualizations, and comprehensive oral history interviews could document ecofeminist narratives. The goal is to to explore diverse ways feminist knowledge is highlighted, shared and passed down to successive generations, facilitating the monitoring of environmental changes over time. Through the story maps and other data visualizations, it would be useful to discuss how these tools may be used as a platform for women worldwide to share their solutions to climate challenges, honoring and valuing those most affected by climate change. I would provide a few case studies and would be delighted to hear from other panelists as well. Here are the case studies (in the form of questions) that I could discuss:
- Why did a woman-led irrigation technology in India a crucial part of survival, especially for poor agricultural communities?
- Why is there an uptick in domestic violence against women throughout the Guatemala and Colombia as the effects of climate change become worse?
- Why are urban slums in African countries overcrowded with people from rural areas?
- Why did only one journalist write feature stories about so-called “housewives” who literally risked their lives to protect the environment in Thailand?
- Why did human rights activists in Turkiye focus on uplifting women in refugee camps(called climate refugees) to make and sell solar batteries?
- Why are men crucial to uplifting rural women in Uganda to increase their self-confidence?
In addition, I would present one example of a digital story map: https://mirroring-hope.netlify.app/#/
It would be very useful to include public historians who work in climate science, sociology, public policy, and the humanities (including English literature and poetry)
If you have a direct offer of assistance, sensitive criticism, or wish to pass along someone’s contact information confidentially, please get in contact directly: Peg Spitzer, [email protected]
ALL FEEDBACK AND OFFERS OF ASSISTANCE SHOULD BE SUBMITTED BY JULY 10, 2024. If you have general ideas or feedback to share, please feel free to use the comments feature below.
What an interesting project, I can’t wait to see how it develops!! I think there could be something fruitful in reaching out to practitioners who work at agricultural museums/living history sites. There’s some really good places that have women-focused programming that may be of interest. Here’s the website for ALFAM: https://www.alhfam.org/
Oops, I just realized this was for the Global South, not the American South. I read it wrong. I think it would be interesting if you discussed feminicide and the dangers that go along with gender norms in agriculture!! If you are interested I recommend reading this: Cerullo, Margaret, and Raziel Valiño. “The Lives of Lupe/Lupín: A Queer Mexican Story in the Time of Neoliberalism.” Latin American Perspectives 41, no. 1 (2014): 89–106. http://www.jstor.org/stable/24573978.
Thank you very much for your feedback. I will definitely follow up with the people you mentioned!