The Buying and Selling of Women’s Studies [Archives:2000/32/Culture]

By Dr. Margot Badran*
The dismantling of the Empirical Research and Women’s Studies Center at San`a’ University over the past several months is by now a well-known story. As many also know that the Center for the Study of the Woman was created in its place. The new name alone hints at what was underfoot to those aware of the women’s studies debates about the notion of the essentialized woman or “the woman.” The name of the new center signals this very notion of the “idealized woman” that the new discipline of women’s studies undertook to deconstruct in favor of examining real women and their real experiences.
The word genderÑwhich had been so ruthlessly maligned in public in the months beforeÑwas blithely purged from the academic lexicon of the new center. (Never mind that in the name of gender millions of development dollars have been and are continuing to be accepted through governmental and private channels, including real women’s studies at San`a’ University.) Without further ado, the central analytical concept and tool of women’s studies was tossed in the trash bin along with the core courses in gender theory and methodology. That was the pathetic end of women’s studies at San`a’ University as a reputable discipline.
Now it is being said that “women’s studies” is once again be funded at San`a’ University by the Netherlands (which had funded the Empirical Research and Women’s Studies Center for four years and stood by as it was disassembled.) It is more accurate to say that the Dutch have funded the Center for the Study of the Woman (for the coming academic year, in what appears to be a “wait and see” attitude). This is quite different from funding women’s studies as a recognizably serious academic enterprise. But, there is a window of opportunity to rectify things. Currently there is a review underway of the curriculum of Center for the Study of the Woman. Gender could be retrieved from the trash, dusted off, and restored to its rightfulÑindeed necessary placeÑin the academic discourse. The core courses in gender theory and gender research methodologies fundamental to any serious women’s studies curriculum could be re-instated. During the crisis (when gender and women’s studies were vilified), some, both insiders and outsiders, saidÑand continue to sayÑah, the term “gender” is not suitable to this culture. (So let it rest in the trash bin.) Such an attitude may be “comforting,” and is certainly patronizing but it is fit only for ostriches with their heads in the sand.
At this moment, it seems to me a certain amount of integrity is called for. You either have women’s studies at San`a’ University or you don’t. You can’t fake it. If you don’t have it, then don’t fund it. Otherwise, it is a joke, in capital letters. We as serious and self-respecting academicians cannot afford to trade in deceit (or deceit masked as ignorance). It would seem logical that funders should not be funding that which does not exist, ie. women’s studies at San`a’ University. How would the women’s studies and gender development communities look at this? Surely, those who have struggled hard to create the discipline (fighting many battles at home) and have struggled hard to gain legitimacy, respect, and admiration for women’s studies would not be pleased with supporting something ersatz in the name of women’s studies. So why not take the high road and support a genuine women’s studies project? Among those who want a real women’s studies program some may be willing as a last ditch measure and salvage operation to join a masquerade dance whereby one seems to be doing one thing while doing another. But, veiling gender is not the answer either.
It seems to me the only answer is either to fund real women studies or not to fund women’s studies, to teach real women’s studies or not to teach women’s studies, and to study real women’s studies or not to study women’s studies. Any anyway, what are you going to do with a diploma in fake women’s studies? Serious people recognize a fake when they see itÑand those who had a hand in producing it. Who said: “Honesty is the best policy?” Let’s vote for her!
* The author is currently teaching gender studies in the international summer school at Bogaziji University in Istanbul.

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