International Conference, 13th – 15th November 2014
Institute of Sociology, Justus-Liebig University, Giessen
CALL FOR PAPERS
Material Matters in Times of Crisis Capitalism:
Transnational Feminist and Decolonial Approaches
The question of materiality has emerged as a central topic in studies
concerned with the body, affect, sexuality, bio-politics and digital culture
in recent years. Under the umbrella term “new materialism”, this
interdisciplinary and multifaceted academic debate seems to have revived a
Marxist vocabulary. Yet, the question of why “materiality” matters in times
of crisis capitalism is rather absent in this debate.
Starting from the assumption that crisis is not exceptional in capitalism but its constant companion and that it represents the foundation from which the modern/colonial world system has evolved, this conference draws on critical feminist economics and decolonial feminist thought and practice on material matters.
The conference has three inter-related aims: first, to examine from transnational feminist perspectives the impact of the global crisis on people’s livelihoods; second, to explore the theoretical contributions of the triad of feminism, coloniality and political economy; and, third, to consider critical feminist economics and decolonial approaches to thinking alternative economies and convivial futures.
In this spirit we have invited key contemporary thinkers, who have linked academic work to political activism and social intervention. Confirmed keynote speakers are:
* Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak (Columbia University)
* Rhoda Reddock (University of the West Indies, St. Augustine)
* Lourdes Benería (Cornell University)
* Gülay Toksöz (Ankara University)
* Gladys Elizabeth Tzul Tzul (Benemérita Universidad de Puebla)
* Marina Gržinić (Academy of Fine Arts, Vienna)
This conference also calls for contributions from activists and artists in a variety of formats such as blogs, radio programmes, video clips and performances on the following themes (though these are by no means exhaustive):
* Between Crisis and Change: Feminism, Living Well and Conviviality
* Queer, Transgender and Feminist approaches to Decolonizing Political
Economy
* Political Economy and Livelihood
* Austerity, Gender & Migration
* Alternatives to Crisis Capitalism: From Time-Banks to the Politics of Affect
Please send a title, an abstract of max. 250 words in English, Spanish,
Portuguese or German, a brief biography and registration form to
femlabour@gmail.com, by 01.05.2014. Successful abstract submissions will be
notified by 01.07.2014
For more details, visit the Event Documentation page and download the full CFP.
Feminisation of Labour Research Network 