Social Sciences

Queer(ing) Critical Issues 1st Global Meeting

Queer(ing) Critical Issues
1st Global Meeting

Call for Participation 2016

Monday 2nd May - Wednesday 4th May 2016
Prague, Czech Republic

As a framework for thinking about and understanding the issues that inform daily life, queer theory offers a useful basis for questioning 'conventional wisdom' and essentialist notions about the definition of and relationship between biological sex, gender and sexual orientation. Contributions to the body of knowledge known as queer theory challenge the values and notions of 'normality' that underpin arguments about the critical issues facing us today. These critical perspectives invite us to ask why the current beliefs and practices around gender identity and sexuality exist, whose interests are served through those arrangements, and what alternatives might look like. By its very nature, queer theory has been closely aligned with concerns of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Queer (LGBTIQ) communities as they have mobilised around issues such as decriminalisation of homosexuality, marriage equality, immigration, media representation of non-straight relationships and anti-discrimination protection. Yet, notions of what is "normal" and how humans ought to behave lie at the heart of everything we do. They condition everything from the policies and laws that regulate us to our own experiences of ourselves and others. Consequently, one need not identify as queer to find value and benefits in the fresh perspectives queer theory can bring to issues in the domains of politics, science, economics, history, activism, biology, psychology, education and visual culture.

For decades, European countries have been at the forefront of promoting social and political justice for all people, regardless of race, class, ethnicity, nationality, gender, sexual identity or orientation. At the same time, issues related to homophobia, xenophobia, sexism, racism, environmental degradation, economic instability, religious tension, sovereignty and armed conflict create challenges that European nations must answer individually and as an EU community.

The Queer(ing) Critical European Issues conference seeks to provide a platform for exploring how our understanding of and responses to any issue facing Europe might be enhanced by drawing upon concepts from queer theory. While it is acknowledged that queer theory is typically associated with academic settings, one of the aims of this event is to bridge the gap between the theoretical and practical application of queer theory by generating new approaches to critical issues, teaching methods, research practices, activism, the delivery of social services, and public policy development.

To facilitate a rich, inter-disciplinary dialogue, we welcome participation by anyone with an interest and expertise in the topic, including by not limited to: activists, artists, legal professionals, policymakers, social workers, NGO representatives, medical professional, business people, historians, anthropologists, scientists, administration/human resource professionals, religious/spiritual advisors, counsellors, educators and researchers.

Possible areas for presentations include but are not limited to:
- Health, wellness and medicine
- Childhood, growing up and getting old
- Law and policymaking
- Sexual/gender politics
- Customs, morals and beliefs
- Family relationships
- Economics, business and corporate management
- Workplace conditions
- Religion and spirituality
- Sex, sexuality and sexual practices
- Literature
- Film
- Television
- Music
- Art
- Fashion
- Representation in news media and other non-fiction forums
- Inclusion in archives, museums, galleries and other curated spaces
- Language/linguistic issues
- Activism and philanthropy
- Identity and community-building
- Multiculturalism/multinationalism
- Movements in and between countries, local case studies
- Poverty and human welfare
- Teaching and learning
- Scientific knowledge and its application
- Philosophy and ethical applications of knowledge

Further details and information can be found at the conference website:
http://www.inter-disciplinary.net/critical-issues/gender-and-sexuality/queering-critical-issues/call-for-presentations/

Call for Cross-Over Presentations
The Queer(ing) Critical Issues project will be meeting at the same time as a project on Sacred Journeys, a project on Slavery and another project on Testimony. We welcome submissions which cross the divide between all three project areas. If you would like to be considered for a cross project session, please mark your submission "Crossover Submission".

What to Send
300 word abstracts, proposals and other forms of contribution should be submitted by Friday 4th December 2015.
All submissions be minimally double reviewed, under anonymous (blind) conditions, by a global panel drawn from members of the Project Team and the Advisory Board. In practice our procedures usually entail that by the time a proposal is accepted, it will have been triple and quadruple reviewed.

You will be notified of the panel's decision by Wednesday 16th December 2015.
If your submission is accepted for the conference, a full draft of your contribution should be submitted by Friday 18th March 2016.

Abstracts may be in Word, RTF or Notepad formats with the following information and in this order:

a) author(s), b) affiliation as you would like it to appear in programme, c) email address, d) title of proposal, e) body of proposal, f) up to 10 keywords.
E-mails should be entitled: Queer(ing) Critical Issues Abstract Submission

Where to Send
Abstracts should be submitted simultaneously to both Organising Chairs:

Organising Chairs:
Karla Bessa: [email protected]
Rob Fisher: [email protected]

This event is an inclusive interdisciplinary research and publishing project. It aims to bring together people from different areas and interests to share ideas and explore various discussions which are innovative and exciting.

All papers accepted for and presented at the conference must be in English and will be eligible for publication in an ISBN eBook. Selected papers may be developed for publication in a themed hard copy volume(s). All publications from the conference will require editors, to be chosen from interested delegates from the conference.

Ethos
Inter-Disciplinary.Net believes it is a mark of personal courtesy and professional respect to your colleagues that all delegates should attend for the full duration of the meeting. If you are unable to make this commitment, please do not submit an abstract for presentation. Please note: Inter-Disciplinary.Net is a not-for-profit network and we are not in a position to be able to assist with conference travel or subsistence.

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Social Sciences