How Two Bioethics Networks Can Network Carolyn Ells

How Two Bioethics Networks Can Network Carolyn Ells, Ph. D Co-coordinator, FAB Associate Professor, Medicine, Mc. Gill University

FAB • International network to further feminist bioethics • Founded in 1992 (at IAB conference) • Members from >25 countries • Non-for-profit, supported by members dues and contributions • Non-hierarchical, consensus, inclusive http: //www. fabnet. org

FAB Aims • Develop feminist theories of bioethics • Develop discussion & debate on bioethical issues from feminist perspectives • Work towards equity for women & other vulnerable groups • Be sensitive to experiences of all marginalized groups • Act through scholarship & practice • Develop practical solutions to health care inequities • Promote meetings with and support for feminist bioethicists around the world.

Organizational Structure Advisory Board – 2 Co-Coordinators – 6 -8 elected board members – 8 officers Other FAB roles – Congress Coordinators – Grants Coordinator – Nominating Committee Officers • Treasurer • Membership Secretary • Country Representatives Coordinator • Listserv Facilitator • Liaison with IAB • Website Facilitator • Archivist • IJFAB Editor

Members • • • Academics Healthcare professionals Policy makers Grass-root activists People concerned about feminism & bioethics Dues scaled to income

Country Representatives • Currently 25 Country Representatives • Coordinate FAB-related activities in their respective countries. • Announce FAB-related events, projects • Encourage FAB members to participate in FABrelated activities in their country & elsewhere • Country Representative Coordinator is link between Advisory Board and Country Reps.

Listserv • Share information – e. g, calls for papers, conference announcements, courses, job opportunities • Discuss issues related to feminist bioethics • >300 members • Moderated To Subscribe email fablist-subscribe-request@lists. dal. ca In body of message write SUBSCRIBE FABLIST Your Name.

Website http: //www. fabnet. org • What is FAB, How to contact FAB, Policies, Membership info, Advisory Board, Country Reps, Conferences, Listserv, Announcements, Link to IJFAB, Publications list • Bibliographies of books by FAB members (1991 -2011, titles in several languages)

Affiliated with IAB International Association of Bioethics http: //bioethics-international. org IAB Aims: 1. Facilitate contacts & exchange of information among people working in bioethics in different parts of the world 2. Organize international bioethics conferences 3. Encourage research & teaching in bioethics 4. Uphold the value of free, open and reasoned discussion of issues in bioethics

Biennial Conference • FAB formed at 1992 World Bioethics Congress when no feminist issues on program • WBC 1994, FAB organized 1 session • Since 1996, FAB organized 2. 5 day conference, joint plenary closes FAB and opens WBC • Networking, Local bioethics experiences shared internationally, Country Reps reports, FAB general meeting, IJFAB editorial board meeting. . .

Biennial Conference • USA 1996: First International Conference on Feminist Approaches to Bioethics • Japan 1998: Globalizing Feminist Bioethics • England 2000: Feminist Bioethics at the Turn of the Century: Globalizing Gender justice, Women’s Autonomy, & Human Care • Brazil 2002: Gender, Power, and (In)Justice • Australia 2004: Feminists Explore Public Health, Indigenous Health and the Body • China 2006: Gender Justice and Women’s Rights in Healthcare • Croatia 2008: Voice, Power, and Responsibility in Health Care • Singapore 2010: Mobilities and Inequalities • Rotterdam 2012 (June 25 -27): Generations: Imagining the Future to Promote Health & Justice http: //bioethicsrotterdam. com

Newsletter + Books Journal • Newsletters – Mailed 1993 -2004 – Online 2005 -2007 • 4 Anthologies – 1996, 1998, 2002, 2004 • IJFAB – Since 2008, 2/year http: //www. ijfab. org

The International Journal of Feminist Approaches to Bioethics (IJFAB) • Sponsored by FAB • Forum for feminist thought & debate within bioethics • Explore how gender intersects with other social determinants of privilege and discrimination • Show necessity & distinctive contributions of feminist scholarship to bioethics. • Sustain & expand network of feminist scholars in bioethics

Thematic and Open Issues Theme issues: • Doing Feminist Bioethics • Research Ethics • Transnational Dialogues • Voice, Power, and Responsibility in Health Care • Feminist Disability Studies and/in Feminist Bioethics • Feminist Perspectives on Ethics in Psychiatry Forthcoming: » Vulnerability » Aging » Women’s Health Care in the Arab Region?

Challenges for FAB • • Volunteer run No central office, administration Dues low to be inclusive; Little $ to be inclusive Function in English. Rarely afford translation Listserv, Website, newsletters moved many times Organizational memory easily lost Biennial conference depends on IAB Journal depends on Stonybrooke Univ, Indiana University Press (JSTOR for membership)

How Can Our 2 Networks Network? 1. Get to know each other Interests, goals, experiences, abilities, people 2. Communicate with each other Share, discuss 3. Joint projects Sessions at conferences IJFAB thematic issue or papers in open issue 4. . ?