Issue 5: Constructions of Gender in Research

Editor’s Note

Siobhan Weare

The second annual North West Gender Conference was held at Lancaster University on 22nd April 2014. The conference was attended by 80 postgraduate students from across the UK who came together to discuss gender in a variety of contexts.

The day began with a keynote speech from Professor Sylvia Walby, Distinguished Professor of Sociology, UNESCO Chair of Gender Research, OBE, who spoke on ‘Gender, the crisis and violence’. This was a fantastic introduction to the conference before delegates separated off into the various panels they wanted to attend. Nine panels took place during the course of the day and spanned a range of themes, including ‘international gendered identities’, ‘gendered violence’ and ‘gender through a historical lens’. There was also a roundtable session which focused on female experiences of contraception, sexual and reproductive health. Three or four papers were presented in each panel on a range of diverse and interesting topics that allowed for a fantastic exchange of ideas, discussion and debate. In total 35 papers were presented at the conference. During the lunch break there was also an opportunity for delegates to view posters detailing research submitted by those who were unable to attend the conference.  

Throughout the day delegates made use of the hashtag #NWGC14 to exchange their thoughts on papers and keep others up-to-date on what was going on in their panel. The hashtag was a fantastic way to keep updated with what was happening at the conference, especially for those who were unable to attend. The conference was enjoyed by both the organisers and delegates alike and preparations for the North West Gender Conference 2015, to be held in Manchester, are well underway.

This special issue of The Luminary contains a selection of conference papers which were submitted for publication. The diversity of the papers highlights and reflects the range of research areas that were represented at the conference.

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