The School of Philosophy is currently involved in several projects that look at the particular issues women face in philosophy, and that aim to build greater participation and retention of women at undergraduate, postgraduate and faculty levels. The Women in Philosophy writing group was established in 2009 and recently received funding from the Vice Chancellor’s Academic Women’s Advancement Fund (AWAF) and the College of Arts and Social Sciences. The group, mentored by Dr Fiona Webster, aims to counter the trend amongst female undergraduates and postgraduates to leave the discipline by providing an informal network of support. Participants discuss philosophical ideas, essay questions, and thesis work in progress, as well as problems raised in current courses and how to apply for grants, scholarships or jobs. The School of Philosophy and AWAF funds will also support a symposium on Women in Philosophy in 2011, with international participation. The symposium will coincide with the publication of a collection of essays, following from the previous symposium held at ANU in 2009, Women in Philosophy: What Needs to Change? edited by RSSS scholars Dr Fiona Jenkins and Dr Katrina Hutchison.

For more information on these initiatives, see http://philrsss.anu.edu.au/women_in_philosophy.php3