Householding in Transition - Emerging Dynamics in Developing East and Southeast Asia, 25-26 July 2011 - Asia Research Institute, National University of Singapore

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CALL FOR PAPERS (DEADLINE: 1 DECEMBER 2010)

Householding in Transition: Emerging Dynamics in ‘Developing’ East and Southeast Asia

  • Date: 25 – 26 Jul 2011
  • Venue: Asia Research Institute, National University of Singapore

Jointly organized by the Asia Research Institute, National University of Singapore, Centre for Developing Areas Research, Department of Geography (Royal Holloway, University of London) and IGU Commission on Gender and Geography.

In recent decades, dramatic social and economic changes have swept the 'developing' East and Southeast Asian region, having profound implications for household structures and their members’ everyday lives. Drawing on Douglass' (2006) concept of 'householding' this workshop seeks to enhance understanding of the challenges being faced in the creation and sustaining of household-level social processes that cover all life-cycle stages and extend beyond the family. The workshop covers three broad themes of the up most contemporary and regional salience, namely (non)marriage and divorce; inter-generational questions concerning ageing and care; and finally, issues surrounding migration and the 'left behind.'

Bringing together scholars working on these interconnected trends, the workshop aims to shed light on the changing household structures and dynamics which are increasingly shaping the domestic landscapes of some of Asia's lesser understood country contexts (including Burma, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Laos, Thailand, The Philippines, and Vietnam). These are countries defined as falling in the United Nations 'medium' and 'low' human development index 2009/2010. Identifying differences and commonalities in terms of patterns and experiences, the workshop has been designed to encourage a comparative country perspective (whilst also being sensitive to household variations in terms of type and headship, gender, age, life-course, and rural/urban differentiation).

We welcome papers that draw on innovative and original empirical research that speak to current theoretical and conceptual debates on the 'household'. Among other themes, papers should address one or more of the following topics concerning household trends in 'developing' East and Southeast Asia:

(1) (Non)Marital and Divorcee Householding - This theme considers the stark and recent occurrence of rising rates, particularly in urban areas, of non-marriage, separation and divorce and what this means in terms of cause, effect and experiences. Papers in this panel should pave the way for the discussion and development of household models which not only concern themselves with the so-called ‘functioning’ of domestic affairs but also the ‘bargaining’ that occurs in the process of household dissolution as part of the dynamism, variability and mutability of home that has been largely sidelined in academic debate.

(2) Intergenerational Householding: Ageing and Care - Given that East and Southeast Asia has the largest number of older persons in the world, ageing and its implications for eldercare is a critical theme. With ageing still regarded centrally as a family concern in most countries in the region, the changing ability of families to care for and support older members within the broader context of state and community welfare systems is an issue that should be the central focus of papers in this panel.

(3) Mobile Householding: Migration and the 'Left Behind' - Extending debates on the emerging dynamics of (non)-marriage, this theme focuses on the impact of migration on householding in East and Southeast Asia as a hotspot of human mobility both internationally, at an intra-regional level, and within national borders. Papers should discuss, among other issues, household composition as determinants of migration, householding negotiations created by the movement of people away from the residential unit, to new household units (for example, as foreign 'mail order' brides or domestic workers) and potentially back again, and the implications of such movements as key constituent (or disruption) of households (and types).

SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS: Paper proposals should include a title, an abstract (300 words max.) and a short bio-note of the author(s) (200 words). Please submit and address all applications and enquiries to Miss Sharon Ong (arios@nus.edu.sg) by 1 December 2010.

Successful applicants will be notified by 17 January 2010 and will be required to send in a completed paper (5,000-6,000 words) by 31 May 2011. Selected papers will be developed and included in one of two special issue journals commissioned for the workshop.

  • CONTACT DETAILS:

Organising Committee -

Dr Katherine Brickell, Department of Geography, Royal Holloway, University of London

A/P Shirlena Huang, Department of Geography, National University of Singapore

Prof Gavin Jones, Asia Research Institute and Department of Sociology, National University of Singapore

Prof Brenda Yeoh, Asia Research Institute, Department of Geography and Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences, National University of Singapore

Secretariat: Miss Sharon Ong, Asia Research Institute, National University of Singapore, #10-01 Tower Block,469A Bukit Timah Road, Singapore 259770 / Email: arios@nus.edu.sg / Tel: (65) 6516 8784 / Fax: (65) 6779 1428

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