Call for Papers – LGBTIQ+ Feminist Resistance and Empowerment

The CTSG (Centre for Transforming Sexuality and Gender) is pleased to announce their support of the upcoming workshop on “LGBTIQ+ Feminist Resistance and Empowerment Against Conservative Ideologies,” taking place on March 10-11, 2025, at the Complutense University of Madrid.

The CTSG can fund two PGR students to attend this event to allow them to contribute to a workshop. Travel and accommodation will be CTSG funded, and subsistence provided by the conference host. Please note this conference takes place in Madrid on Monday 10 and Tuesday 11 March 2025, so overseas travel will be necessary.

If you are interested in applying, please send a short EOI to ctsg@brighton.ac.uk by Friday 31 January, 5pm.

Further details of the workshop are attached and can be found below and on the attached flyer..

Workshop Focus: The workshop will explore the resurgence of conservative ideologies and their impact on gender and sexuality, examining strategies of resistance and transformation employed by feminist and LGBTIQ+ movements. Topics include intersectionality, digital activism, arts-based resistance, and more.

 

This event is organized by the:

In partnership with:

 

Full details below

TALES OF RESISTANCE

Contemporary societies are witnessing a resurgence of conservative and right-wing ideologies that challenge hard-won social and political gains, particularly in the realm of gender and sexuality. These movements, characterized by a backlash against progressive social change, not only target women and LGBTIQ+ communities but also threaten to erode rights and freedoms across a spectrum of social justice issues. We observe a concerted effort to dismantle reproductive rights, social safety nets, and promote discriminatory policies that marginalize and oppress vulnerable populations. This workshop seeks to critically examine the multifaceted challenges posed by these contemporary conservative and right-wing actors and movements and explore the diverse strategies employed by social movements to resist oppression and build a more just and equitable world.

A Call to Action

This call invites anthropologists and scholars from neighbouring disciplines – sociology, history, political science, gender studies, and beyond – to contribute to this critical inquiry. Participants are encouraged to explore creative approaches, combining rigorous critical theory with innovative methodologies. The event will also serve as a platform to share insights from different cultural and regional contexts, fostering a rich dialogue among scholars and activists.

While focusing on the challenges women and LGBTIQ+ communities face, this workshop aims to foster a broader understanding of the interconnectedness of social justice struggles. We encourage submissions that examine the broader impacts of conservative ideologies on a range of social justice issues to address the following questions:

  • How are feminist and LGBTIQ+ movements resisting the current backlash against gender and sexual diversity, and what strategies are they employing?
  • How do intersecting systems of power (e.g., race, class, colonialism) shape resistance strategies and the effectiveness of social movements?
  • What is the role of digital activism and transnational collaborations in strengthening and sustaining feminist and LGBTIQ+ movements?
  • What are the cultural and political factors driving the backlash against gender and sexual diversity, and how can different movements effectively counter these forces?

By examining how these actors and movements mobilize, articulate their ideologies, and exert political influence, we can gain a deeper understanding of the challenges facing progressive social change in the contemporary world. This workshop provides a valuable platform for scholars to share their research findings, engage in critical dialogue, and collaboratively explore pathways for resistance and transformation.

We welcome papers addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

  • Resistance to right-wing, conservative Ideologies
  • Intersectionality in Practice
  • Neoliberalism
  • Gender Justice in Sports and the Arts
  • Crosscutting Environmental issues
  • Creative and Arts-Based Resistance
  • Digital Activism and Online Mobilization
  • Decolonial and Majority World Perspectives
  • Mental health and Activism

Participants will also join a “CCoLAB Creative Resistance” session, an interactive workshop on arts-based participatory methods facilitated by Gabriel Hoosain Khan, University of Brighton. Panel discussions and additional special sessions will be announced soon.

 

Submission Guidelines:

  • Deadline: February 8th, 2025
  • Submission: Submit an abstract (max. 300 words) with a title and rationale, along with a short bio (max. 150 words) to nags.enqa2023@gmail.com
  • Notification: Accepted participants will be notified by February 11th, 2025.