2022 Annual Conference: The Virtual World

Description: 2020 brought a radical shift in the lives of women. The focus of this conference examines how the move to the virtual world ​during the Covid-19 pandemic has upended our daily lives and presented challenges and opportunities to many women.  Without a commute to the workplace, many women were able to invest more time in their scholarship, relationships, and health; however, many women found themselves trying to navigate issues of childcare, intimate partner violence, and potential joblessness. Likewise, many women found new friends and even financial solvency in online communities. MMORPGs, streaming platforms, ​social media apps like TikTok united women, providing a safe-space to discuss issues of mental health, social injustice, and countless other topics. Still, many women who were reluctant or unable to engage in such technology suffered isolation, loneliness, and despair. This conference seeks papers that address any issue in our transfer to the virtual world. Such papers might address the topics above but may also involve: virtual protests, issues of access and equity, eSports, updates on the #MeToo Movement, #GabbyPetito, #BreonnaTaylor, navigating spirituality in this virtual world, ​education, transnational feminism and oppressive regimes, trans bodies as represented in avatars, etc.

Additionally: any submission that addresses women’s ​and gender issues will be considered.

Co-chairs:

Professor Andi McClanahan, Assistant Professor;

Erica J. Dymond, Interim Director of the Gender and Sexuality Center Ariel A. Tucci

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DOWNLOAD THE CONFERENCE AGENDA HERE!