Task Force for International Women in American Studies

Dear Colleague,

The questionnaire below has been prepared by the Task Force for International Women in American Studies. This Task Force was appointed in 1998 by the President of the ASA, in recognition of the difficulties that scholars outside the U.S. have in engaging in the study of the U.S., and the special difficulties often faced by women who are peripheral to the networks of scholars in their own countries and regions, and whose gender-related work may not be accorded full credit in their home countries. It is therefore charged with assessing the needs of women engaged in the study of the U.S. whose usual work and residences are located outside the U.S., and if possible serve those needs.

For this purpose, the Task Force wishes to start by developing a comprehensive directory of women engaged in the study of the U.S. outside the border of the 50 states, whether affiliated to an establishment or working/doing research as an independent scholar. We intend to include women beyond the traditional "American Studies" network whose interests in literature, the social sciences, feminist theory, and women's studies overlap with and are not necessarily encompassed by traditional definitions of American Studies. We hope our directory will eventually include not only the women mentioned above but also U.S. based ASA members (men and women) whose work and interests lend themselves to support the work of those outside the U.S.

If you think you fall into one of the two categories of scholars to whom we are now giving priority, please fill in the questionnaire below.

With thanks for your help, and in the hope that a wide variety of women in American Studies will ultimately benefit from this service,

Alice Kessler-Harris
Irene Ramalho Santos
Co-Chairs, American Studies Association, Task Force for International Women

Questionnaire :

Name:

Address (Please indicate the preferred mailing address to which you wish your hard copy sent.)

	preferred
home:
office:

Telephone

home: Office:

fax: e-mail:

Degrees (if any):

Publications (if any):

Professional interest (Specialization, research interest, teaching interest, disciplinary affiliation, etc.):

Position at work (if relevant):

Do you accept to have the data you have provided above distributed?

Would you like to be subscribed to the International Women's Task Force Listserv?

We would appreciate answers to the following questions as well:

What are the problems, if any, that you face in your work or in networking in your region?
In what ways do you think the International Women's Task Force could help to solve these problems, or other needs that you or your colleagues in the region might have?
What would your expectations from the International Women's Task Force be?
In what ways might you find such a directory as the one we plan useful?
Would you be interested in organizing and/or participating in sessions at conferences in your region or in the U.S.?
Would you be interested in organizing and/or participating in formal or informal conversations at conferences in your region or in the U.S., and through such face-to-face, electronic, or other mediums as the task force finds useful and relevant?
Would you be interested in helping to create networks in your region?
Would you be interested in arranging liaisons and connections to the ASA?
What kind of liaisons and connections to the ASA would you like to see arranged?
Please add any other comments and/or suggestions you may have concerning the International Women's Task Force, its aims or planned activities.