Call for papers - Annual Meeting of the Association of American Geographers
Organisers: Kath Browne, University of Brighton; and Catherine J. Nash, Brock University.
Over the last 40 years or so, sexual and gender minorities have struggled for fundamental inclusion in the social, political and economic life of their communities. Using a variety of political and theoretical tools, academics and to some extent activists have challenged the very underpinnings of understanding about gender, sexuality, embodiment and attendant social relations. In recent years, the proliferation of new approaches in feminist and queer thinking and political critiques around notions of ‘homonormativity’ and ‘neoliberalism’ has opened up myriad divisions as well as new alliances between and amongst both theorists and activists. These arguably ‘new’ gendered and sexual politics are potentially engaged in the formation of new equality landscapes, whilst often being critical of the legislative equalities that are seen as ‘normalising’ once queer lives.
Yet, while much has been made of fluidities, anarchisms and anti-normativities of much of these new conceptualizations, the assertion made by some (which at times has been overtly stated) is that certain spaces that were once 'political' and filled with radical opportunity are no longer 'queer', 'edgy' or different enough, having been absorbed into neoliberal urbanity. Such spaces include traditional lesbian and gay villages, feminist, lesbian and women's spaces and other supposedly 'normalised' sites. The spatial lens offers an opportunity to explore everyday lives as political, as well as the politics of everyday life as it is manifested 'on the ground'. Contextualising this spatial perspective within the broader political and social landscapes of human rights successes, equalities legislation and protections allows for a more extensively critical examination of these competing claims.
We are seeking papers that examine explore, critique and promote contemporary sexual and gendered spatial politics and lived experiences. Papers may address (but is by no means limited to):
- Feminisms
- Gender politics
- The rise and popularity of discussions of 'homonormativities'
- Neoliberalism
- Queer politics/activism
- Place-making in and beyond the traditional ‘gay village’
- Rural lives
- Consumption
- Gaining 'respectability and power'
- Class
- Race/Ethnicity
- Post-colonialism
- Intergenerational learning
- Intergenerational wars
- Queer
- Trans
- Radical lesbianism
- Radical feminism
- Gay Marriage/civil partnerships
Please note: call for papers now closed.
News item created 17 Sep 2010
