Call for Papers: Three-Day International Webinar on Stories from Down Under- Gender Discourses in Australia

Organizer: Centre for Australian Studies, University of Kerala

About the Conference

  • When: 26-28 October 2022
  • Call for Papers
  • Free Registration

Concept Notes

Nations are gendered through official, widely disseminated and popular discourses of national identity. Along with class and ethnic distinctions, gender acts as a category for defining one’s environment and establishing social boundaries. Since all social systems are dynamic and subject to both internal and external influences, gender boundaries too undergo alterations posing novel implications From time immemorial, ‘gender disparity’ has been a widely discussed topic all over the world and Australian ethos offers diverse perspectives in this regard.

Australian Aboriginal myths are abundant with goddesses starting from Yhi(goddess of light and creation) to Waramurungadi (all- creating mother of Australia). Though instances of gender discrimination marred the history of the nation with the notorious ‘Western Australia 1905 Aborigines Act,’ which caused children to be forcefully removed from their mothers thus leading to what is now called ‘the stolen generation,’ Australia as a gendered nation has eventually succeeded in foregrounding progressive steps. In fact, it is recognised as the second country in the world to provide suffrage rights to women. Also, Australian history of feminism is embellished with progressive steps including “No FGM in Australia,” “Sex Discrimination Act” (1984), and “Work Place Gender Equality Act” (2012). Rich with prominent feminists and femocrats including Germaine Greer and Edith Cowan, the gender politics of the state has
received global attention. Australian gender discourse gained its momentum through various terrains including the digital media that offered a fertile space to deliver and ponder on myriad gender issues. Also the popular ‘Sistergirl,’ ‘Brotherboy’ in Torres Strait Islander Community invites a much broader perspective and diverse concepts of gender, challenging the western notions of gender binaries

The three day International Webinar on “Stories from Down Under”: Gender Discourses in Australia” organised by the Centre for Australian Studies, University of Kerala, aims to delineate the developments of gender discourses in Australia and intends to promote the discussions on gender, sexuality and identity in contemporary society.

Thrust Areas include but are not limited to:

  • Gender and Politics
  • Gender and Law
  • Gender and Environment
  • Gender and Visual Representations
  • Gender stereotypes in the Entertainment industry
  • Gender disparities in power and pay
  • Social movements and Gender
  • Gender and the Digital discourses
  • Gender and Popular Culture
  • Gender and Violence
  • Gender relations and the Aboriginals
  • Gender history / Gendered histories
  • Gender and Disability
  • Gender-diverse Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People
  • Women in the Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Important Dates

  • Last date for submission of abstracts: 10 October 2022
  • Intimation regarding acceptance of abstracts: 17 October 2022

Register Here

  • The word count should be 150-200 words along with list of keywords
  • The abstract should contain the following: Name, Designation, College/Institution, Paper title

Guidelines for abstract submission

Correspondence
Dr. Suja Kurup P. L
.
Director, Centre for Australian Studies
University of Kerala, centre.australianstudies.ioeku@gmail.com
9446302815

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