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SAA Committee on the Status of Women in Archaeology (COSWA)

The SAA Committee on the Status of Women in Archaeology (COSWA) is composed of ten members, including the chair. A member of the SAA Executive Board participates as Ex-oficio and liaison between the Board and COSWA. The term of service on the committee is two years, with staggered terms, but committee members may be re-appointed once for successive terms, especially to facilitate on-going studies through continuity of personnel. A student member may be appointed for a one- to two-year term. Non-successive re-appointments may also be made.

COSWA was first appointed in the 1970s. The committee was abolished some time around 1983. In 1991, at the request of several women in the SAA, it was reappointed, with the immediate aim of contributing to planning of a membership survey in order to obtain information pertinent to understanding the status of women in the profession. Since that time COSWA's activities have been expanded to include more general promotion, collection and dissemination of information about the status of women, equality for women, and their professional development in the profession. For example, the Committee has initiated career-related studies on the status of women, organized roundtable discussions on career-related issues, women's network receptions, and symposia concerning gender issues. These activities constitute an ongoing part of COSWA's contributions. Other activities of the committee that have been undertaken in accordance with the COSWA mission are a number of current projects:

• an analysis of SAA census materials with respect to various gender equity issues,
• a pilot study of contract firms,
• a monitoring of recent hirings and tenurings in academic institutions and
• success rates of NSF awards and establishment of closer ties with the American Anthropological Association's COSWA.

COSWA also maintains a column, COSWA Corner, in The SAA Archaeological Record. Most recently, it has organized a separate group, the Women in Archaeology Interest Group, to encourage broader support and participation. Whereas COSWA members are appointed, Interest Group members participate on a voluntary basis. A small COSWA budget is granted by the SAA Executive Board for the various activities described.

This Interest Group was approved by the Executive Board of SAA. In distinction to COSWA, a committee appointed by the executive board of the SAA, membership in the Women and Archaeology Interest Group is open. To join the group attend one of its meetings at the SAA or sign up when you renew your SAA membership.

The group has been formed as a vehicle for the discussion and dissemination of a broad range of professional, research, and scholarly issues of concern to women archaeologists. The group will improve contact among women archaeologists, broaden forums of discussion and action on issues of interest to COSWA, women in archaeology and archaeologists interested in gender studies. Among activities planned to facilitate these goals are sponsorship of varied activities, development of a newsletter, and publication of bibliographies of recent publications about gender and feminist theory.