Diversity, Disparity, and Disadvantage: Implications for Research, Public Policy, and Social Justice (#spssi #conference http://critpsycho.blogspot.com)

The Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (SPSSI)
Division 9 of the American Psychological Association (APA)
121st APA Annual Convention
Honolulu, Hawaii, July 31 - August 4, 2013
SPSSI Program Co-Chairs: Bettina J. Casad and Luis M. Rivera

SPSSI Convention Theme:
Diversity, Disparity, and Disadvantage: Implications for Research, Public Policy, and Social Justice

Although the presence of social diversity in the world is a global community asset, this
benefit is overshadowed by the reality that disparities and disadvantages persist in many individuals'
lives across the globe. Ethnic-racial segregation, unequal education and career opportunities, poor
access to quality health care and affordable nutritious foods, physical and mental health disparities,
and unfair civil rights are among the social injustice themes that persist in many contemporary
societies. In light of these issues, the SPSSI theme at the 2013 APA Annual Convention in Honolulu
will be: Diversity, Disparity, and Disadvantage: Implications for Research, Public Policy, and Social
Justice. Consistent with this theme, invited speakers, special symposia and posters will focus on: (a)
basic and applied research on the development and maintenance of disparities and disadvantage; (b)
interventions that effectively reduce disparities and disadvantage; and (c) how research and
interventions have been, and can be, transformed into effective public policy that benefits individuals
and groups. It is vital to understand and communicate the phenomenon of disparities and
disadvantages because it is a social justice issue – that is, disparities and disadvantages are
unnecessary, avoidable, and unfair. This notion is based on the principles that all individuals should
be valued and treated equally, that equal opportunities have particular significance for individuals,
and that individuals should have the right to a standard of living adequate for physical and
psychological well-being.

Call for Proposals

We are accepting proposals for symposia, single-speaker papers, and posters in ALL areas of
psychology relevant to social issues; however, we extend a special call for proposals that are
consistent with our conference theme (see above). In recent years, we have had excellent programs at
APA, and we hope to have even more representation from our division at APA 2013 in Honolulu.
Early career faculty and graduate students are especially encouraged to organize a symposium in their
area of study relevant to social justice or to submit a poster proposal of their work. Additional
information on the SPSSI Division 9 Conference theme can be found at http://www.spssi.org/.

Submissions should be made online by midnight EST on Friday, November 16, 2012 at
http://www.apa.org/convention/proposals.aspx. If you are submitting a proposal to be considered as
part of the conference theme, be sure to select "Disparities and Disadvantage" as your primary index
term. APA non-members may submit proposals if an APA-member is a co-author or sponsors the
proposal.
Full details about the procedures for submitting proposals can be found at
http://www.apa.org/convention/call-for-programs.pdf.

Please feel free to contact us at bjcasad[at]csupomona.edu and luis[at]psychology.rutgers.edu
with questions or ideas for programming that you would like to see at the next APA convention.