lahore
Institute of Women's Studies
OVERVIEW
Feminist scholarship rooted in South Asian reality
South Asia’s pioneering Women’s Studies institute — bridging theory, activism and knowledge production since 1993.
1993
Founded in Lahore
6
Certificate courses run
31+
Short workshops held
80+
Global academic links
70+
Publications in print
Students and faculty joined from
Delhi University, Harvard University, Univ. of Colombo, ISS The Hague, SOAS London, Montclair State, Jadavpur Univ., Univ. of Natal
Overview - INTRODUCTION
What is IWSL?
In 1993 ASR moved towards establishing its most ambitious project — a Women’s Studies and Women in Development Training Centre.
This was a consolidation of ASR’s previous training, research and publication initiatives, bringing together work done across Asia with particular emphasis on South Asia. The ASR Institute of Women’s Studies understands Women’s Studies as a discipline addressing both the conceptual underpinnings of knowledge and the practical realities of women’s lives.
IWSL was set up to bring national, South Asian and international faculty into joint comprehensive programmes based on South Asian realities and the concerns of the Global South. It is also the only public institute in Pakistan primarily for women to access — for research, training, library use, and meetings.
"Women's Studies has the potential to enable an awareness and consciousness not only of patriarchy, but also of class, race and other factors underlying oppression."
Overview - Conceptual Underpinnings
Women's Studies / Women & Development
Women’s Studies evolved from the Second Wave of Feminism in the 1960s. Interdisciplinary by definition, it is best conceptualized as a mode of inquiry that puts women at the center of analysis — critiquing, challenging and redressing masculinist modes of knowledge production across sciences, social sciences, arts and humanities.
It seeks to reclaim and celebrate the lives, experiences and contributions of women and marginalized people, redefining what counts as knowledge, how it is produced, and the parameters within which scholars and researchers operate.
Women’s Studies is concerned with assessing strategies to produce social change by linking reflection and analysis into the women’s and people’s movements. It is not about merely “adding women” to existing disciplines — the entire field of knowledge must be rethought.
01
Multidisciplinary
Encourages insights from various traditional disciplines. A coming together of units that reinforce each other — continuous, dynamic and action-oriented. Not a new discipline, but a different one.
02
Radical
Investigates how knowledge bases are constructed and articulated. Challenges the idea of the “objective” researcher and demands collaborative, accessible research for mutual benefit.
03
Knowledge & Action
Researchers and teachers must relate knowledge to activism and policy formulation — and be part of that very action, challenging the very notion of scholarship within academia.
04
Transformation of Society
Social inequalities cannot be overcome without changing the structure of production of ideas, labour and goods. Freedom from patriarchy, racism and class inequalities is the goal.
Overview - Context & Cost-Effectiveness
Why IWSL in South Asia?
Since there are few opportunities for Women’s Studies training in Asia, scholars have had to travel to Europe or the United States at very high expense — where contextual knowledge may not be relevant and where Asian scholarship is often absorbed into Western knowledge systems.
IWSL was established to develop an institute located in this reality, connected to the women’s movement, allowing academic work by even those without traditional university prerequisites. It brings renowned international faculty into Pakistan and South Asia, enabling scholars from the Global South to be taught within their own contexts.
Western University (per student / year)
$80,000+
Typical annual cost at a European or US institution studying Women’s Studies, excluding living expenses and travel.
IWSL Certificate Course
A fraction
IWSL courses bring together the same renowned international scholars within Pakistan — accessible to South Asians and the Global South at vastly reduced cost.
Overview - ASR & Women's Studies Training
A history of pioneering work
From grassroots workshops in 1983 to Pakistan’s first Women’s Studies Conference — the road to IWSL.
1983
ASR’s training programmes began, reaching grassroots workers, peasant groups, industrial workers, women’s rights activists, media workers, policy makers and development professionals. Training was also conducted in video and theatre skills within a conceptual and analytical framework.
1987–94
ASR was the first in South Asia to implement short residential courses on feminism and women and development issues at the national level — holding 12 specific workshops over 7 years for activists, policy makers, development workers, researchers and writers.
1993
In July, a landmark workshop on Women and Development and the Women’s Movement was held in Abbottabad — the first coordinated course run by the envisaged IWSL faculty, including South Asian participants and resource persons.
1994
ASR organized Pakistan’s first National Multidisciplinary Women’s Studies Conference in Lahore. An estimated 8,000–10,000 people were mobilized as participants, organizers and observers. Considered one of the most pioneering and well-received events in Pakistan on behalf of women.
1994-97
A further 46 extensive short workshops and courses were conducted across Pakistan at local, provincial and national levels, with emphasis on 12 key issues identified during the process leading to Beijing.
1997
A national and international faculty meeting was held to organize the framework and policies of the Institute, finalize course modules, schedule teaching commitments, and establish evaluation mechanisms.
1998
The first three-month Certificate Course in Multidisciplinary Women’s Studies was launched — a milestone for South Asian feminist education, attracting students and faculty from across Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas.
Courses & Programmes
Certificate Course in Women's Studies
The three-month Certificate Course in Multi-disciplinary Women’s Studies was first held from 5 February to 1 May 1998, and ran annually until 2004. IWSL attracted students from Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, The Philippines, South Africa and Nigeria.
Faculty came from India, Sri Lanka, South Africa, the USA, Australia, Europe and Pakistan. The student body included university faculty, post-graduate students, lawyers, architects, artists, environmentalists, writers and journalists.
Orientation
Overview of Women’s Studies, Salient Concepts, Research & Academic Skills
Module One
History — Herstory
Module two
Political Economy
Module three
Identity / Ideology / Law / Religion / Education
Module Four
Cultural Representation: Print Media, Theatre, TV, Film, Dance, Art, Literature
Module Five
Women’s Movement & People’s Struggles
Module six
Feminist Theory
Module seven
Writing & Completion of Final Assignment
Certificate Course Details (1998–2004)
Six editions of the flagship three-month programme.
| # | Dates | Lead Faculty / Resource Persons | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 Feb – 1 May 1998 | Dr. Uma Chakravarti (Delhi), Dr. Meera Velayudhan (Jamia Millia), Dr. Sepali Kottegoda (Colombo), Dr. Neloufer de Mel (Colombo), Fauzia Qurashi (NCA), Salima Hashmi (NCA), Hina Jilani (AGHS), Shehla Zia (Aurat Foundation), Sheema Kirmani (Tehreeq-e-Niswan), Anis Haroon, Samina Ahmad | 22 |
| 2 | 31 Jan – 16 Apr 1999 | Dr. Uma Chakravarti (Delhi), Dr. Sharmila Sen (Harvard), Dr. Sepali Kottegoda, Dr. Alibhe Smyth (Univ. College Dublin), Dr. Naziema Jappie (Univ. of Natal), Nighat Said Khan (Dean IWSL), Dr. Rubina Saigol, Hina Jilani, Dr. Lubna Chaudhry (NYC University) | 17 |
| 3 | 1 Feb – 7 Apr 2000 | Dr. Uma Chakravarti (Delhi), Dr. Jasodhara Bagchi (Jadavpur, Calcutta), Dr. Fawzia Afzal Khan (Montclair State), Dr. Nazeema Jappie (Natal), Dr. Bronwyn Winter (ISS, The Hague), Dr. Saskia Weiringa (ISS), Nighat Said Khan (Dean IWSL), Hina Jilani, Salima Hashmi | 23 |
| 4 | 2 Feb – 28 Apr 2002 | Dr. Uma Chakravarti (Delhi), Dr. Sepali Kottegoda, Nighat Said Khan (Dean IWSL), Kishwar Naheed, Dr. Azra Tallat, Dr. Huma Haque (QAU), Shehla Zia, Anis Haroon, Neelum Hussain (Simorgh), Salima Hashmi | 20 |
| 5 | 3 Feb – 2 Apr 2003 | Dr. Uma Chakravarti (Delhi), Dr. Sepali Kottegoda, Dr. Swarna Jayaweera, Dr. Kumari Jayawardena, Dr. Selvy Thiruchandran, Maithree Wickremesinghe (Kelaniya), Sunila Abeysekera, Dr. Neloufer de Mel, Chithra Maunaguru (Univ. of Jafna), Nighat Said Khan, Fauzia Qureshi | 18 |
| 6 | 5 Feb – 28 Apr 2004 | Dr. Uma Chakravarti (Delhi), Meenu Gaur (SOAS), Jaya Sharma, Nighat Said Khan (Dean IWSL), Fauzia Qureshi (NCA), Shehla Zia, Hina Jilani, Nazish Attaullah (NCA), Dr. Azra Tallat | 14 |
Courses & Programmes - Short Workshops 1998–2011
Intensive short courses
IWSL short courses cater to women’s rights activists from NGO, government, academic, development, media and other professional sectors — both female and male. All courses are residential and conducted on IWSL/ASR premises. They range from five to fourteen days and can be international, national, or provincial in scope.
| # | Workshop Title | Date | Resource Person(s) | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Conflict, Peace and Feminist Perspectives/Experiences | Apr-98 | Saba Khattak, Nighat Said Khan | 22 |
| 2 | Advocacy, Leadership, and Assertiveness Skills | 31 Mar – 4 Apr 1999 | Nighat Said Khan | 25 |
| 3 | Film Theory and Aesthetics Classes | 1 Feb – 19 Apr 1999 | Dr. Sharmila Sen (Harvard University) | 25 |
| 4 | Globalization and its Impact on Women | 10–14 Jul 1999 | Dr. Azra Tallat, Tallat Mehdi, Khalid Hussain, Dr. Rubina Saigol | 25 |
| 5 | Feminist Perspectives on Development Theories and Movements | 26 Sep – 3 Oct 1999 | Nighat Said Khan, Dr. Lubna Chaudhry, Samina Rahman, Hina Jilani, Dr. Rubina Saigol, Salima Hashmi | 35 |
| 6 | New Frontiers in Women's Studies: Conflict, Citizenship and the Family | 15–20 Oct 1999 | Nighat Said Khan, Farida Shaheed, Hina Jilani, Dr. Rubina Saigol, Dr. Lubna Chaudhry, Shahtaj Qazilbash, Dr. Azra Tallat | 22 |
| 7 | Debates in Feminist Theories | 29–30 Jan 2000 | Professor Christine Delphy (ISS, The Hague) | 15 |
| 8 | Gender/Feminism: Patriarchy and Sustainable Development | 1–5 Mar 2000 | Nighat Said Khan, Kamla Bhasin | 30 |
| 9 | Design and Craft Production | 10–15 Mar 2000 | Salima Hashmi (NCA), Nazish Attaullah (NCA), Shahnaz Ismail, Meera Hashmi | 32 |
| 10 | Feminist Perspective on Mainstream Education | 13–17 Jul 2000 | Samina Rahman, Shirin Gul, Ayesha Hasan | 27 |
| 11 | Sexual Harassment and Male Violence Against Women | 8–11 Aug 2000 | Shirin Gul, Ayesha Hasan, Nighat Kamdar | 25 |
| 12 | Feminist Perspectives on Portrayal of Women in Media | 13–17 Sep 2000 | Shirin Gul, Ayesha Hasan | 17 |
| 13 | Women as Property & Women and Property — Women Labour and Rights in Rural Communities | 3–7 Jan 2001 | Manoshi Mitra | 30 |
| 14 | Two-week South Asian Artists Workshop on Peace: "Rumors of Spring" | 7–20 Apr 2001 | Salima Hashmi (NCA), Nazish Attaullah (NCA) | 20 |
| 15 | Conflict and Peace Workshop | 10–12 Jun 2001 | Nighat Said Khan | 30 |
| 16 | Conflicts: Historical Context and Initiatives Towards Resolution | 19–23 Jun 2001 | Nighat Said Khan | 35 |
| 17 | Feminist Research Methods | 21–25 Jan 2002 | Nighat Khan, Dr. Huma Haque (QAU) | 22 |
| 18 | Health, Women and Workers: A Third World Perspective | 3–7 May 2002 | Dr. Huma Haque (QAU) | 28 |
| 19 | Women, Use, Production and Conservation of Natural Resources | 27–31 May 2002 | Dr. Huma Haque (QAU) | 23 |
| 20 | Women and the Legal System in Pakistan: A Feminist Critique | 26–30 Aug 2002 | Dr. Huma Haque (QAU), Shahla Zia | 20 |
| 21 | Creative Writing | 19–23 Oct 2002 | Nighat Khan, Uzma Aslam Khan | 20 |
| 22 | Patriarchy, Control of Women's Sexuality, Multiple Identities and the Women's Movement | 5–12 May 2007 | Dr. Uma Chakravarti (Delhi), Nivedita Menon, Nighat Said Khan, Rubina Saigol, Anis Haroon | 17 |
| 23 | Workshop on Women's Movement and Feminism | 13–14 Feb 2010 | Dr. Uma Chakravarti (Delhi), Nighat Said Khan | 25 |
| 24 | Conflict in Pakistan and its Impact on Women | 28–29 Apr 2010 | Nighat Said Khan | 25 |
| 25 | Extremism and Violence against Minorities and Women in Punjab | 10–11 Aug 2010 | Nighat Said Khan | 26 |
| 26 | The Floods in Pakistan — Impact on Women and the Poor; Policy Restructuring | 23–24 Sep 2010 | Nighat Said Khan | — |
| 27 | Workshop on Women's Movement and Feminism | 25–27 Nov 2010 | Nighat Said Khan | 30 |
| 28 | Workshop on Women's Movement and Feminism | 28–30 Nov 2010 | Nighat Said Khan | 30 |
| 29 | ASR Programmatic Approach: Women in Conflict Zones / Women & Children as Peace Makers | 24–26 Mar 2011 | Nighat Said Khan | 25 |
| 30 | ASR Programmatic Approach: Women in Conflict Zones / Women & Children as Peace Makers | 30–31 Jul 2011 | Nighat Said Khan | 18 |
| 31 | ASR Programmatic Approach: Women in Conflict Zones / Women & Children as Peace Makers | 14–16 Nov 2011 | Nighat Said Khan | 25 |
Courses & Programmes - Mainstreaming Women's Studies
IWSL & Public Sector Universities
IWSL has had an ongoing supportive relationship with Women’s Studies Centres in public sector universities across Pakistan, with a comprehensive programme from 2003 to 2006 covering the Universities of Jamshoro, Peshawar, Balochistan, Karachi, Fatima Jinnah and BZU.
This intensive programme included university-wide orientations, taught courses on Women’s Studies, research methodologies, library and archival methods, and curriculum development — placing essential readings and publications in Centre and central libraries.
| University workshops (2005–2006) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Workshop Title | Date | Resource Person | Participants |
| 1 | Sharing experiences of teaching Women's Studies at post-graduate level; curriculum development discussions | 4–6 Feb 2005 | Nighat Said Khan | 27 |
| 2 | Feminist Research Methodologies (3-day workshop) | 21–23 Oct 2005 | Nighat Said Khan | 19 |
| 3 | Curriculum Development for Women's Studies (5-day course) | 27–31 Jan 2006 | Nighat Said Khan | 19 |
| 4 | Curriculum Development for Women's Studies (5-day course) | 11–15 Feb 2006 | Nighat Said Khan | 15 |
| 5 | Assessment of IWSL and Future Directions — IWSL Faculty Meeting | 3–5 Mar 2006 | Dr. Uma Chakravarti (Delhi), Nighat Said Khan, Meenu Gaur (SOAS), Dr. Sepali Kottegoda (Colombo) | — |
| 6 | Curriculum Development in Women's Studies at Postgraduate Level in National Universities (2-day workshop) | 6–7 Mar 2006 | Nighat Said Khan, Meenu Gaur (SOAS), Dr. Uma Chakravarti, Fareeda Khan, Rukhsana Qambar, Najma Sadeque, Dr. Azra Talat, Samina Rehman, Neelam Hussain | 34 |
| Curriculum modules designed for public sector universities | ||
|---|---|---|
| # | Module Title | Faculty |
| 1 | Cultural Representation | Meenu Gaur (SOAS) |
| 2 | Education | Farida Khan |
| 3 | History | Dr. Uma Chakravarti (Delhi University) |
| 4 | Women in Conflict Situation | Dr. Uma Chakravarti / Nighat Said Khan |
| 5 | Feminist Theory | Nighat Said Khan |
| 6 | Women's Movement | Nighat Said Khan |
| 7 | The Construction of Identity and Ideology | Dr. Uma Chakravarti / Nighat Said Khan |
| 8 | Violence Against Women | Dr. Uma Chakravarti / Nighat Said Khan |
Scholars' Programme
Provides space and facilities to national and international feminist researchers, artists and others engaged in creative and scholarly endeavours — research supervision, facilities and board/lodging. Past residents include scholars from Yale, Montclair State and the University of Oregon.
Autonomy vs. Integration
IWSL engages with the ongoing international debate on whether Women's Studies should exist as an independent centre or be integrated within other disciplines — drawing on models from the Radcliffe Consortium (Harvard, MIT) and other global programmes.
Diploma Programme
The Diploma in Women's Studies comprises the 12-week Certificate Course followed by a three-month research term requiring a 20,000–30,000 word dissertation/thesis. IWSL is working with Pakistani faculty to support M.Phil and Ph.D students.
15,000+
People mobilized across Women’s Studies conferences
200+
Women who presented papers at conferences
7,000+
Books in the IWSL library
2,000+
Films — raw footage, documentaries, features
Seminar Series
Renowned feminist scholars
The Institute runs a Seminar Series featuring leading national and international feminist academics — open to broader audiences beyond the resident student body.
| # | Seminar Title | Date | Speaker | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Recovering Women's Voice: Women's Writings, Oral Narrative and Rewriting of History | 17-Feb-99 | Dr. Uma Chakravarti (Delhi University) | — |
| 2 | When the Caribbean Sea meets the Indian Ocean: Literature of the South Asian Diaspora in the Caribbean | 25-Feb-99 | Dr. Sharmila Sen (Harvard University) | — |
| 3 | Changing Roles of Sri Lankan Women in the Context of Globalization and Ethnic Conflict | 05-Mar-99 | Dr. Sepali Kottegoda (University of Colombo) | — |
| 4 | Challenge for Feminists, Making for the Future — A View from the Republic of Ireland | 17-Mar-99 | Dr. Alibhe Smyth (University College Dublin) | — |
| 5 | Women in the National Struggle and Women and Human Rights in South Africa after National Liberation | 31-Mar-99 | Dr. Naziema Jappie (University of Natal, South Africa) | — |
| 6 | The Claims of Memory: Bearing Feminist History (Lahore) | 01-Feb-00 | Professor Christine Delphy (ISS, The Hague) | 60 |
| 7 | The Claims of Memory: Bearing Feminist History (Islamabad) | 04-Feb-00 | Prof. Christine Delphy, Dr. Uma Chakravarti | — |
| 8 | Persistent Structures, Ideological Manoeuvres and Everyday Challenges: Women's Movement in South Asia | 08-Feb-00 | Dr. Uma Chakravarti (Delhi University) | — |
| 9 | The Culture of Politics and Politics of Culture | 02-Mar-00 | Dr. Jasodhara Bagchi (Jadavpur University, Calcutta) | — |
| 10 | The Color of Feminism: Performing Heiner Muller's Medeamaterial at the NY Fringe Festival 1998 | 02-Mar-00 | Dr. Fawzia Afzal Khan (Montclair State University) | — |
| 11 | Co-Existence of Customary and Civil Marriage in South Asia | 09-Mar-00 | Dr. Naziema Jappie (University of Natal, South Africa) | — |
| 12 | Male-streaming Women: What's Wrong with the Number Game | 15-Mar-00 | Dr. Bronwyn Winter (ISS, The Hague) | — |
| 13 | Women Organizations, Communism and State in Indonesia | 22-Mar-00 | Dr. Saskia Weiringa (ISS, The Hague) | — |
| 14 | Women as Property and Women and Property | 03-Jan-01 | Manoshi Mitra | 35 |
| 15 | Women as Ornament, Women as Prostitute: Rethinking the Women's Question in Pakistan? | 20-Feb-01 | Ayesha Jalal | 80 |
| 16 | The Rhetoric & Substance of Empowerment: Women, Development and State | 15-Feb-02 | Dr. Uma Chakravarti (Delhi University) | 88 |
| 17 | Othello: A Post-Colonial Text | 20-Feb-02 | Neelum Hussain | 74 |
| 18 | Women Writings since 1857 | 28-Feb-02 | Kishwar Naheed | 61 |
| 19 | Globalization and its Impact on Livelihood and Food Security | 11-Mar-02 | Dr. Azra Tallat Sayeed | 59 |
| 20 | Coping with Drought: Experiences of Women in Sri Lanka in the Context of Globalization | 22-Mar-02 | Dr. Sepali Kottegoda (University of Colombo) | 55 |
| 21 | The Story of Noble Rot | 28-Mar-02 | Uzma Aslam Khan | 97 |
| 22 | Status of Women in Afghanistan Today | 10-Apr-02 | Mareena Mateen | 86 |
| 23 | Women & History, Women in History / Women's Studies (Sindh University, Jamshoro) | Apr-04 | Dr. Uma Chakravarti, Nighat Said Khan | 200 |
| 24 | Lecture on History at Karachi Press Club | 13-Apr-04 | Dr. Uma Chakravarti (Delhi University) | — |
| 25 | Lecture on Federalism, Federation and Citizenship Rights | 25-Apr-08 | Abida Hussain | — |
| 26 | Consultation on Security Council Resolution | 22-Dec-08 | — | 14 |
| 27 | Citizenship, Inter and Intra State Conflicts and the Political Economy of Aid (Lahore) | 12-Jun-09 | Nighat Said Khan, Aly Ercelan, Salma Sindhu | 65 |
| 28 | Citizenship, Inter and Intra State Conflicts and the Political Economy of Aid (Islamabad) | 15-Jun-09 | Nighat Said Khan, Aly Ercelan, Nasreen Azhar, Raza Rumi | 50 |
| 29 | Round Table Discussion on Women, Peace and Security | 03-Dec-09 | Nighat Said Khan | 25 |
| 30 | Round Table Discussion on Women, Peace and Security | 08-Dec-09 | Nighat Said Khan | 25 |
| 31 | Consultation on CEDAW and Seminar on Women, Peace and Security | Dec-09 | Nighat Said Khan | 60 |
| 32 | Seminar on Women's Movement | 12-Feb-10 | Dr. Uma Chakravarti, Nighat Said Khan, Irfana Mallah, Samina Rehman | 85 |
| 33 | Seminar on Bangladesh — 40 Years of Silence 1971–2011 | 25-Mar-11 | Nighat Said Khan, Salima Hashmi | 55 |
Women's Studies Conferences
Landmark conferences
ASR/IWSL has always considered Women’s Studies to be interdisciplinary — a coming together of individual and collective expressions. The conferences were the first attempt in Pakistan to bring women across disciplines together, providing a space for sharing, questioning, debating and critical analysis.
Across three major conferences, over 200 women presented papers and an estimated 15,000 people participated as attendees, organizers and observers of open-day presentations, debates, exhibitions, theatre, film festivals, poetry recitations and demonstrations against violence against women.
| # | Conference Title | Date | Key Presenters | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A Celebration of Women — Interdisciplinary Women's Studies Conference Themes: Identity · Women & Literature · Creativity · Women's Movement · Development. Activities: Art Exhibition, Film Festival, Book Festival, Theatre, Feminist Mushaira. | 21–25 Mar 1994 | Nighat Said Khan, Afia Zia, Rukhsana Qambar, Durre Ahmad, Neelam Hussain, Kishwar Naheed, Salima Hashmi, Anis Haroon, Fareeha Zafar | 2000 |
| 2 | "A Making of Meaning" — Second Transdisciplinary Women's Studies Conference Themes: The personal is political · Women Constructed/Reconstructed · Crafty Women — Women and Art · A Voice of Her Own · Women and Peace/Conflict · Women's Studies and the Movement. | 24–28 Mar 2001 | Alice Thorner, Dr. Uma Chakravarti, Urvashi Butalia, Dr. Sharmila Sen (Harvard), Farida Shaheed, Nighat Said Khan, Hina Jilani, Salima Hashmi, and many others from Pakistan, South Asia, France and USA | 161 |
| 3 | National Conference on Women's Studies 2006 Topics: State of the Discipline · Curriculum Development · Research Methods · Impact of TNCs on Peasant Women · India Shining — Bollywood Reading · Myths and Realities. Faculty from 8 Pakistani universities + 3 from India. | 38784 | Dr. Uma Chakravarti, Meenu Gaur (SOAS), Farida Khan, Dr. Rubina Saigol, Rukhsana Qambar, Dr. Azra Talat, Nighat Said Khan | 200–300 |
| 4 | "Weaving Wisdom, Confronting Crisis, Forging the Future — Moving Forward Together" | 30 Apr – 1 May 2010 | — | 250 |
| 5 | National Consultation on Moving Forward Together | 10–11 Sep 2011 | — | 300 |
"More than the energy and inspiration that sustained the Conferences, the differentiating marker was the space they provided for sharing, questioning, debating, critical analysis, input to ongoing research and challenging of views."
Long-term Research Studies
Six research agendas, 1998–2008
With very limited external funding, IWSL undertook six long-term research studies documenting under-researched aspects of Pakistani and South Asian women’s lives.
1. Women's Representation in the Print Media in Pakistan
Published as “Watching Them, Watching Us”. The media study was conducted extensively over a four-year period. Several aspects have not yet been analyzed and remain available for further scholarly work.
2. Violence Against Women
This study focused on violence — including economic violence — in 5 villages of Punjab. Integrated into the research were intensive discussions with men on why men are violent. Unpublished.
3. A Question of Land
Land and Tenancy Rights of Women and women in tenant/peasant struggles — from the Tebhaga Movement to the Anjuman-e-Mazareen. Empirical work done in rural Punjab over 2000–2003, bringing information on rural women across a 26-year period. Publication in process:
4. Conflicts, Divisions & Partitions — Voices of Women
An ongoing study from 1984, now in three parts:
1. A Map is not a Territory
2. And Then They Told Their Story
3. The Present as History
Focuses especially on the partition of India in 1947 and women’s experiences of violence, displacement and memory.
5. Religious Minorities in Pakistan — particularly Hindu Dalit Women
Included a mapping of all religious minorities in Pakistan; surveys, intensive qualitative work, fact findings and focus group discussions. The publication focuses on Hindu, Christian and Qadiani minorities.
6. Inter and Intra-State Conflicts; Women as Peace Makers
Study on the impact of conflicts on women; women as peace makers; women in peace resolution. Also raises questions on the Federation and on citizenship rights. Related to ongoing IWSL programming on women in conflict zones.
7. UNDP/MoWD — Bibliography on Gender Issues in Pakistan
Preparation of a comprehensive Bibliography on “Gender Issues in Pakistan” for the Ministry of Women’s Development website. This study received external funding support from UNDP.
Publications
Books, journals & more
Realizing the dearth of training material in Pakistan — particularly in Urdu — ASR began translating and publishing training materials, research reports and writings in both Urdu and English. At present ASR is the only alternative feminist publisher in Pakistan, with a list of over 70 titles.
ASR uses art works by women artists for its book covers, and prints feminist artists’ work as posters and cards for wider dissemination.
Women Studies Journal Series
Six volumes from the 1994 “A Celebration of Women” conference.
- Vol. I — Locating The Self: Perspectives On Women And Multiple Identities
- Vol. II — Sex Crimes In The Islamic Context: Rape, Class And Gender In Pakistan
- Vol. III — Masculinity, Rationality And Religion: A Feminist Perspective
- Vol. IV — Development Papers
- Vol. V — In Her Own Write: Short Stories By Women Writers In Pakistan
- Vol. VI — "A Celebration of Women": Essays and Abstracts from the Conference
Selected Books (English)
- With a Stroke of a Pen - ed. Timothy Marr
- Heart Divided (Urdu version) - Mumtaz Shah Nawaz
- Up Against The State: Military Rule and Women's Resistance - ed. Nighat Said Khan
- Honour Shame and Resistance - Saima Jasam
- Watching Them Watching Us - Afiya Sherbano Zia
- Figure: The Popular and the Political in Pakistan - Farida Batool
- Beyond Belief (reprinted) - trans. Rukhsana Ahmed
- Masculinity, Rationality and Religion: A Feminist Perspective (reprinted) - Durre S. Ahmed
- Rhetoric and Reform · Voices Within · Women at Point Zero · Committed Lives
- Legacy of Freedom · Aspects of Women & Development · Finding Our Way
- Hidden From History: Forgotten Queens of Islam · Feminism and Nationalism in the Third World
- Peace Resource Book · Documenting the Process to Beijing and Beyond
- A Historical Study of The Communist Movement in Pakistan 1940–1974
- Agrarian Reform and the Peasantry in Pakistan · Violence Against Women Research
Urdu Publications
- Waqat Kay Say · Almi Samjotay · Apni Nigah
- Aur Khwab Bikhar Gay · Nai Zaviay
- Nawiyan Sochaan (Punjabi translation)
- Heart Divided (Urdu)
Lecture Series
- "Wending Towards Theory" — A Series of Lectures on Issues of Women and Development
- International Lecture Series — II
Publications - Library, Resources & Archives
A comprehensive knowledge repository
A large portion of the ASR Library focuses on Women’s Studies and is considered comprehensive in the discipline. The library houses primary empirical data on land, women and land, women’s representation in media, violence against women, religious minorities, partition narratives and agrarian studies — all available to researchers and scholars.
The IWSL also houses over 2,000 films including raw footage of demonstrations, theatre performances, art exhibitions and interviews — as well as documentaries and feature films. All IWSL lecture series are available on video, and the certificate courses on audio cassette.
7,000+
Books in the Women’s Studies library
2,000
Newspaper clipping registers by category
500+
Research reports
1,000+
Bound periodicals
2,000+
Films — raw footage, docs, features
Academic Networks & Collaborative Programmes
Global academic connections
IWSL is in contact with over 80 university-based Women’s Studies programmes internationally, with most exchanges focused on curriculum development, feminist pedagogy, and faculty/student exchanges.
International institutions
- Harvard – Bunting
- National Council for Research on Women – USA
- Wellesley College Centre for Research on Women
- Asian Institute of Technology (Gender & Dev.) – Bangkok
- University of Albany – New York
- Institute of Women's Studies, St. Scholastica's – Philippines
- Simon Fraser University – Canada
- University of Oregon – USA
- University of Dublin – Ireland
- University of North London
- Montclair University – New Jersey
- University of Toronto – Canada
- Rutgers University
- Hunter College
- Tromsø University
- Johann Wolfgang Goethe University
- Deakin University
- Göteborg University
- UCLA
- Institute of Social Studies – The Hague
- Asian Centre for Women's Studies
- Monash University – Australia
- Shristina Institute for Women's Studies – Finland
- Gender & Dev. Training Centre, Leiden – Netherlands
- School of Women's Studies, Jadavpur – Calcutta
- Centre for Women's Studies, York University – England
- McGill University
- Carleton College
- IDS Sussex
- University of Melbourne
- London School of Economics
- University of Adelaide
- University of Brighton
- University of Bradford
- Delhi University
- Kolkata University
- International Centre for Ethnic Studies – Sri Lanka
- Asian Peace Alliance – Philippines
- South Asian Women for Peace
- Gender and Women's Studies Network in Asia
Pakistani institutions
- Quaid-e-Azam University
- Punjab University
- Karachi University
- Lahore School of Economics
- Aga Khan University
- Peshawar University
- Sindh University
- Faisalabad University
- Hyderabad University
- Balochistan University
- Fatima Jinnah University
- BZU Multan
- National College of Arts (NCA)
- Socio-economic Research – Systems Limited
Facilities
A space designed for women
The Institute is located in Lahore — a city with a rich historical and cultural history, and a history of political consciousness and activism. The choice was conscious: Lahore’s museums, libraries, archives, bookshops, galleries, historical monuments and parks are all accessible resources for students and researchers.
IWSL is centrally located in a quiet lane, away from traffic and congestion, with security a key consideration — particularly for families sending women members for training in a public space. It is the only such institute in Pakistan primarily for women to access and utilize.
The concept of “women’s space” and non-hierarchical feminist methodology guided the building’s design. Living quarters are structured like a house rather than a typical hostel — deliberately designed to enhance integration and sisterhood among students, gradually eliminating class, race, ethnic or religious barriers.
"The décor was done while keeping in mind women's creativity — a mural painted by lay women in a workshop at ASR, Central Asian women-woven rugs, and photographs of prolific women from the performing arts lining the staircase."
Central location
Easy accessibility to markets and recreation, but in a quiet lane away from the nerve-wrecking noise of traffic and congestion — a deliberate balance for a conducive learning environment.
Feminist architecture
The building is designed to look like a house, not a hostel. In-built is the concept of sisterhood — rooms and common spaces arranged to enhance integration among students from different backgrounds.
Women's creativity celebrated
From murals painted by women in workshops to Central Asian dowry rugs to photographs of performing artists — every element of décor reflects consistency between theory and action.