Gender, sexuality focus of new centre
Almost 130 years after the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide made history by admitting women to academic courses, a new $300,000 research centre focusing on gender issues has been launched at the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥. The Centre for Research on Gender will embrace social topics, health and work issues from the perspective of both sexes, as well as investigating the role that sexuality plays in people's lives. The centre will continue a tradition of innovation and progressive thinking at the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide. In 1881, Adelaide was the first ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥n university to admit women to its courses, just 13 years before South ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ became the first state in the country - and one of the first in the world - to grant women the right to vote. The ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ also graduated ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥'s first female surgeon, Laura Fowler, and the country's first female Queen's Counsel and State Governor, Dame Roma Mitchell. ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide Vice-Chancellor and President Professor James McWha said the Centre for Research on Gender would build on the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥'s commitment to promote social justice, equality and diversity in its own workplace and the wider community. "We aim to develop the study of gender relations, drawing particularly on feminist, sexuality and masculinity studies, producing research which is relevant to both men and women," Professor McWha said. Between 1983 and 2000 the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ was home to the highly acclaimed Research Centre for Women's Studies. Professor Susan Magarey was foundation director of this centre and also initiated the internationally renowned ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥n Feminist Studies journal. In 2007 the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide also established the Freemasons Foundation Centre for Men's Health, which aims to help men live longer, happier and healthier lives. South ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥'s Minister for the Status of Women, the Hon. Gail Gago, along with SA Equal Opportunity Commissioner Linda Matthews and Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, the Hon. Michelle Lensink, were among those who attended the centre's launch. Story by Candy Gibson
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