Call for Papers | DCUGENDERSEXFORCEDMIGRATION

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The Gender, Sex and Forced Migration Conference seeks to provide an academic platform upon which to discuss openly the various processes and expressions of sexual cultures, sexual identities and gender role formation in the context of forced migration. In so doing, the organising Committee seeks to delve into the many debates informing the multifaceted causes and consequences of gendered and sexual vulnerabilities and insecurities that arise before, during and after forced migrations.

Many studies examine sexuality and gender to understand migrant identities, lives, and experiences (Levitt and Schiller, 2004; Moroşanu, 2018; Engzell and Mathieu, 2020; Usta and Ozbilgin, 2023). Some scholars have also analysed migration by looking at how the sexuality of migrants interacts with the broader socio-cultural context in which migration occurs (Ahmed, 2000; Fortier, 2001; Mai and King, 2009). Studies cover the pursuit of security as a driver of migration, which embeds the aversive state of conflict (Sirkeci, 2009), political risk and engagement (Gamburd, 2000), and the legal safety of migrants (Parreñas, 2001; Pessar and Mahler, 2003). They also indicate that the space in which migration takes place is essential to understanding the migration experience (Luibhid, 2008; Boccagni, 2017; Faist, 2018). Scholars have also focused on art, activism and artivism using creative and artistic methods of expression to denounce in/justice, cultivate awareness, and motivate change in society when dealing with forced migration (Sandoval & Latorre 2007; Asante, 2009; Rippon & Kapoor, 2019; Jane and Sandell, 2019; Valiz, 2020).

Research has shown that gender and sexuality can be drivers for migration, but also key to understanding who migrates and how, the networks used, as well as the opportunities and resources upon arrival. They are also decisive when examining the migrants' relations to their country of origin. (International Organization for Migration, World Migration Report 2022). Risks, vulnerabilities and needs are also shaped in large part by one’s gender. The roles, expectations, relationships and power dynamics associated with identifying as a cis- or transman, a cis- or transwoman, being a boy or a girl, and whether one identifies as heterosexual, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer or fluid, significantly affect all aspects of the migration process, and can also be affected in new ways by migration.

Academic paper proposals and poster proposals as well as roundtable session or interactive workshop proposals are welcome, from the disciplines of Arts, Health, Humanities and Social Sciences, from an Irish perspective as well as from all regional socio-cultures. Professionals in the fields of forced migration and sexuality, working in NGOs, national and non-national agencies, artists and services providers in the fields of sexuality are also welcome.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to gender and sexuality studies in the context of forced displacement and:

Art, artivism and the representations of forced displacement
Belief systems and faith
Cultures
Family studies
Health and unhealth
Interpreting / translating practices
Languages
Literary writing
Love, feelings and emotions
Online cultures, AI, communications and the media
Sexual taboos and paraphilias
Sexual violence (FGM, GBV, rape, torture)
Spatial Studies
Trafficking, prostitution and sex-work
Service provision, ethics and deontology

The Gender, Sex and Forced Migration Conference offers four options for abstract submission

Only submissions received through the Abstract Submission form by Monday 25th November 2024 will be accepted.

Individual presentations

A paper is 20 minutes, length, followed by 10 minutes discussion at the end of the session.

Paper presentations will take place during the Parallel Sessions.

Selected abstracts will be placed by the Conference Organizing Committee into sessions with 3 other papers on similar topics.

The Academic Committee will have the prerogative to select a session Chair from the session participants.

A small number of presentations that do not fit within one particular session will be offered the possibility of presentation in poster format.

Full Sessions

Sessions consist of the presentation and discussion of papers prepared specifically for the Conference. Proposals should include a maximum of three (3) papers.

Clearly indicate the primary and secondary sub-themes that the session addresses.

Please, remember to include information about the aims of the panel.

Each session proposal should include the following information (besides the personal information of each participant): Paper title, brief conceptual summary, brief professional statement.

Session organizers must list participants in the expected order of appearance.

Only one of the presenting authors per proposed session will be able to submit a session proposal.

It is the submitter’s responsibility to include current and complete information. If the Organising committee is not notified of e-mail changes, it is not responsible for missing correspondence.

Responsibilities of Session Organizers and Chairs:

Obtain the approval of anyone you are proposing as a participant. This is imperative.

Ensure that the decision on your application is shared with all participants.

Roundtables

Roundtables are spaces that address a more narrowly defined topic than plenary sessions. Each participant will agree on a specific topic to discuss and debate. Each person is given equal right to participate; Q&A to follow. We invite interested contributors to present their proposals with the following information:

- Title and description of the activity (with objectives and goals)

- Presenters / facilitators

- Hosting organization / Sponsor

- Methodology

- Content Descriptor

- Potential presenters and duration of the activity (no more than one hour)

- Contact person and e-mail

Workshops

Workshopsare interactive and 'hands-on'. They will provide an in-depth review of (or introduction to) a topic of relevance to the conference theme, and typically provide participants with materials and/or ideas that are immediately useful for the participants. Workshops will ideally devote significant time to hands-on activities by the attendees. To these ends, workshop presenters should provide participants with workshop materials, in advance of and/or during the workshop. All spaces are organized by Dublin City University. We invite interested organizations to present their proposals with the following information:

- Title and description of the activity (with objectives and goals)

- Presenters / facilitators

- Hosting organization / Sponsor

- Participants characteristics (number, profile, prior registration, other requirements)

- Methodology description

- Contact person and e-mail