File spoon-archives/french-feminism.archive/french-feminism_1996/96-06-15.140, message 270


Date: Wed, 10 Apr 1996 15:35:52 -0400
From: km13-AT-knot.QueensU.CA (Katherine M. J. McKenna)
Subject: Re: Message from Cixous


This is a forwarded message from WMST-L in response to Kristin Switala's
request. Katherine McKenna


>The office of renowned French feminist Helene Cixous, who chairs the only
>doctoral-level Women's Studies program in France, at Paris VIII, has
>requested that concerned scholars throughout the world fax the French
>Ministry of Education BEFORE APRIL 15 to protest the proposed closure of
>France's only doctoral-level Women's Studies program. The governmental
>commission for the evaluation of scientific and technical research (MST)
>has once again advised the Ministry of Education against the continuation
>of the program.  The CNESER (Conseil national de l'enseignement superieur
>et de la recherche) will act on this governmentally authorized opinion on
>April 15. In nearly every case they confirm the commission's findings.
>
> The Program is asking for the support of concerned women's studies
>faculty throughout the world. (See background on the program after
>sample letters.)  It urges that you:
>
>Please fax, without delay, to the CNESER (33-1-40-65-70-90). We suggest
>you send the following message, either in French or in English:
>
>ENGLISH VERSION
>Monsieur le Ministre de l'Education Nationale, president du CNESER, and
>dear colleagues:
>    We urge you not to destroy the DEA of Etudes Feminines of the
>University of Paris VIII, directed by Helene Cixous. The scholarly
>community acknowledges the central importance of the research that has
>been carried out in this program, one of the first of its kind in the
>world, for the past 22 years.  This program must continue.  As a
>concerned feminist scholar in the United States, I endorse the research
>being done in the doctoral seminars led by members of the doctoral program
>of Etudes Feminines.
>
>FRENCH VERSION (note: not possible to put in accents on internet)
>Monsieur le Ministre de l'Education Nationale, president du CNESER, et
>chers collegues,
>    Nous vous demandons instamment de ne pas detruire le DEA d'Etudes
>Feminines de l'universite de Paris VIII, dirige par Helene Cixous.  Notre
>communaute scientifique a besoin que la recherche menee depuis 22 ans au
>sein de cette formation, pionniere dans son domaine, puisse se
>poursuivre.  Nous soutenons (?) la recherche menee dans les seminaires de
>doctorat animes par les membres de la formation doctorale en Etudes
>Feminines.
>
>BACKGROUND:
>The negative judgment of the governmental commission (MST) criticized,
>among other things, that the program had no French students among the 23
>who were writing theses. (This allegation was incorrect, as three of the
>students hold French citizenship. Furthermore, as there is only one
>women's studies program in France, there is no incentive for French
>students to complete WS doctoral studies, as there is little related
>employment.  And the bias against "foreigners" is a matter for concern.)
>
>The MST report also criticizes the WS program for having a small number of
>doctoral graduates, but the case is similar for many larger doctoral
>programs in France.  There are 45 students enrolled in Women's Studies (22
>are pre-thesis, 23 writing theses), and there is an unprecedented demand
>for enrollment in the graduate program.
>
>Finally, France ranks 15th out of 15 countries in Europe regarding the
>position of women in society (numbers holding political postions,
>important positions in the workforce and the business world, etc.  And
>Women's Studies is not represented in the National Council of the
>Universities. (All of this information comes directly from the Program's
>fax.)
>
>Please fax quickly.  Thanks for your help.
>



   

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