An international women’s studies conference will make its debut visit to Aberdeen next month when delegates from 22 countries worldwide gather at the University of Aberdeen to explore the highly charged issue of Gender and Violence.
The Feminist and Women’s Studies Association (UK & Ireland) will hold its 18th annual conference from Friday September 9 to Sunday September 11, 2005, in King’s College.
A number of high profile speakers have been invited to the conference, including internationally renowned American poet Sharon Olds, who will open the conference as plenary speaker at 6.00pm in King’s College Centre on Friday, September 9.
Sharon Olds was the New York State Poet Laureate from 1998 – 2000. She is Professor in English and a key member of the Creative Writing Programme at the University of New York. Her eight volumes of poetry have achieved critical acclaim for their powerful exploration of both domestic and political violence.
Other prestigious guests taking part in the conference include Vera Baird, QC, MP for Redcar, Chair of the Commission on Women and the Criminal Justice System, and currently Chair of the All-party Parliamentary Groups on Domestic Violence and Survivors of Sexual Abuse; and Professor Haleh Afshar, of the Department of Politics at the University of York, whose many publications include Women and the Middle East and The Dynamics of Race and Gender.
As the second plenary speaker, Vera Baird will talk on Politics and gender violence on Saturday, September 10, at 9.30am – 10.30am, in King’s College Centre, while Professor Afshar will deliver the third plenary, entitled War, Violence and Resistance: Where are the Women? from 1.30pm – 2.30pm.
The Gender and Violence conference will explore a broad range of disciplines covering such themes as domestic violence, gender and militarism, violence and sexuality, and cosmetic surgery, as well as literary and media representations of violence.
Conference organiser Dr Jeannette King, Senior Lecturer in the School of Language and Literature at the University of Aberdeen, said: “This conference aims to explore male and female violence and the complex relations between reality and representation, in a variety of practices and fields.
“It will provide an opportunity to investigate the many forms in which ‘violence’ has been expressed historically and continues to be expressed globally.
“The inter-disciplinary nature of the conference will make it possible to explore the extent to which gendered violence is sustained by the wider culture.
“We are delighted the conference is coming to Aberdeen for the first time and we look forward to welcoming women from all over the world to the city and to the University.”
Over 100 delegates from countries including Australia, USA, Egypt, New Zealand, Malaysia, Japan, Nigeria, Taiwan, Greece, France and Germany, will attend next month’s conference.
Visiting academics from institutions across the UK and beyond will join women and men working in the community to deliver papers throughout the weekend.
Academics from the University of Aberdeen will also play a key part in the weekend’s events, including Dr Julia Biggane, Lecturer in Hispanic Studies; Dr Madeleine Jowett, Lecturer in Sociology; Dr Debra Gimlin, Lecturer in Sociology; and Dr Marysia Zalewski, Reader in Gender Studies; Dr Blair Smith, Clinical Senior Lecturer, and Dr Joyce Walker, Teaching Fellow in History.
The Feminist and Women's Studies Association (UK & Ireland) is open to all. The full programme for the conference is available by visiting: www.abdn.ac.uk/womens/conference>www.abdn.ac.uk/womens/conference