Inaugural panel of the Network for the Anthropology of Gender and Sexuality

Biennial Conference of the European Association of Social Anthropologists (EASA)

Tallin, Estonia, 31rd July 2014 – 3rd August 2014

Innovation and Continuity in the Anthropology of Gender and Sexuality 

Contact persons: Anna Fedele (CRIA) and Kim Knibbe (University of Groningen)

Short description:

This is the inaugural panel of the network for the anthropology of gender and sexuality. We wish to explore the breadth of the ethnographic research that is being done on this topic and to situate current analyses within the history of anthropological scholarship on gender and sexuality.

Abstract

Many developments within Europe and the wider world make it necessary to bring together scholarship on gender and sexuality to facilitate intellectual exchange and comparative work. These developments include long-lasting processes such as the multitude of institutionalized forms of male domination, as well as daily practices of hegemonic masculinity and the use of stereotyped concepts of masculinity, femininity and heteronormativity to legitimize sexist and homophobic practices.

There are also more recent phenomena such as feminist reactions to the perceived threat to liberal values concerning gender and sexuality from migrant groups in Europe, the broad discussions on gay marriage in many countries, but also the ways in which feminist agendas are (ab)used to legitimize neo-colonial and military interventions, and the rise of ‘sexual nationalism’ in Africa and Europe.

We therefore invite ethnographically grounded papers that develop the anthropology of gender and sexuality as it has evolved over the past decades or explore new ways of addressing gender and sexuality. We particularly welcome papers that situate themselves explicitly within the history of the anthropological study of gender and sexuality. We look forward to a stimulating first session that will be the foundation for many more sessions to come, to develop and expand an international sharing of research on gender and sexuality.

More information about the EASA Network for the Anthropology of Gender and Sexuality