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Political Science Professor Explains Puzzling Patterns of Women's Rights Around the World It's easy to believe that getting more women elected to office or having a strong feminist movement would similarly promote sex equality in every facet of law and policy, from maternity leave to sexual harassment. But it's not that simple, says S. Laurel Weldon, a professor of political science. Director of the new Center for Research on Diversity and Inclusion, which launched in January, Weldon says history shows that different areas of women's rights follow distinct logics. For instance, she says, "being a former communist country meant that many areas of family law were reformed at one particular time. But you won't find that same pattern in those countries in the area of violence against women, where commu- nism actually retarded the development of women' countries and inhibited the development of policies on violence against women. Since feminist movements are the key catalyst behind government action on vio- lence against women — meaning things like sexual assault, domestic violence and sexual harassment — you see very different outcomes in that area." s movements in many of those Such early findings are the result of a major international study Weldon has undertaken in a project that covers 70 countries from every region of the world over four decades. The research team has conducted on-the-ground re- search in areas such as Nigeria, Argentina, Israel, China and India, gathering documents and conducting interviews with activists, politicians, legal experts, scholars, and non-governmental organizations. "In the area of maternity leave in the United States, it helps us understand the obstacles better, '" Laurel Weldon Center for Research on Diversity and Inclusion The College of Liberal Arts has created a new interdisciplinary center aimed at pro- moting and supporting research related to diversity and inclusion. The Center for Research on Diversity and Inclusion will facilitate research on funda- mental questions about the meaning of di- versity and inclusion, and on the challenges of creating communi- ties that are not simply diverse but that are actually inclusive. Such research will encompass a wide range of issues including but not limited to race; gender; ethnicity; sexual orientation; socio-economic status; national- ity; age; religion and ability; and the social, political and cultural support for and impediments to equal treatment and inclusion. Ultimately, she hopes her ongoing research will inform policy makers, advocates and others around the world working for change in women's rights. get better, more expansive maternity leave adopted, they could look at our data and analysis and say, 'I really see where the obstacles are, I see how to negotiate this or make the right alliance. " she says. "If activists want to put a program together on how to The research also tells a more hopeful story, she says: "If you're stymied in one area of women' work. It doesn't follow that if you can't, say, get an abortion law reformed or you can't get family law reformed or you can't get good government action on violence against women or you can't get maternity leave, that you can't act in other areas." s rights, if you're feeling like you can't get policies or laws adopted that advance women's rights in one area, there might be some other area where you can make it "In the university's 'New Synergies' strate- gic plan, Purdue highlights the importance of a learning environment rich in diversity, equality and inclusion," says Irwin Weiser, the Justin S. Morrill Dean of the College of Liberal Arts. "The new center will enhance already existing research interests on campus and encourage new research projects, and it also will create a platform to support fac- ulty working on these topics to help them attract external funding." Laurel Weldon, director of the center, says that last year the college organized a diversity and inclusion lecture series. "We are in the early planning stages, but as the center grows it will support faculty and student research as well as sponsor symposia, lectures, exhibits, conferences, readings and other events, she says. Depending on faculty interest, the center could build on existing expertise in global studies, immigration, women and science, diversity and leadership, African Ameri- can studies, health and inequality, social policy and the many other interdisciplinary strengths that Purdue offers." Spring 2012 7