Australian Women and Gender Studies Conference

AWGSA biennial conference 2024:

"Not Just Another (Feminist) Conference": Gathering To Explore Courageous Feminisms

Dates: 13 - 15 November 2024

Call for papers

Abstract submissions are now open for the biennial Australian Women & Gender Studies Association (AWGSA) Biannual Conference.

This year our conference is themed “Not Just Another (Feminist) Conference: Gathering To Explore Courageous Feminisms”.

We invite broad submissions that explore topics related to our broad conference themes on Anti-coloniality, Breath, Sustainability, Love, Relationships, Grief, Loss, Violences, Technology, AI, Community and Solidarity. 

Please read more about our conference themes AWGSA biennial conference 2024.

We welcome graduate students, post-grads, senior academics and practitioners (therapists, policymakers, stakeholders, advocates, social workers, psychologists, teachers, health care workers etc.) who are involved in women’s and gender work from across any disciplines and fields to submit an abstract that will contribute to this 3-day gathering of knowledge creation and circulation.

About the conference

This is not your typical conference. We are doing things, sharing knowledge, and gathering differently and intentionally.  In the midst of the current global chaos, violence, war, genocide, femicides, and climate dystopias, more is being demanded of us - and, rightfully so. We want to explore how we engage in feminist work courageously within and outside the academy while also sustaining ourselves and others. 

The conference is a space for rigorous intellectual conversation, exchange and critique; however, we do not subscribe to the traditional adversarial model of conference criticism as we do not believe it fosters collegiality. Instead, we prefer to emphasise the principle of intellectual generosity.

We are intentional and deliberate in engaging in language and actions that dignify our peers and colleagues at the conference.  As you consider putting in an abstract, you are encouraged to commit to co-creating an environment where dignified interactions become intrinsic to everyone's collective experience. This will ensure that the conference serves as a platform for meaningful dialogue, and the advancement of feminist principles of care, respect and equity.

To be inclusive of how different ideas can be shared, we invite traditional papers in the format of a paper presentation, as well as creative and innovative formats and approaches to knowledge circulation. Poetry? Spoken word? Songs? Skits? Art? Dance or movement practice? A yoga class and reflection? Meditation?

Please note: This is also an unapologetic feminist space and exclusionary behaviour in the form of racism, transphobia, queerphobia, sexism, Islamophobia, and ableism will not be accepted. Please read our AWGSA biennial conference 2024 code of conduct and review Southern Cross University's purpose and values here.

The AWGSA conference is proudly hosted at the Southern Cross University, Gold Coast Campus, with the support of the Office of Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Academic Capability).