The call for papers below is an extraordinary reopening of the original Beijing call for papers for authors who did not submit to the Beijing conference but want their work considered for Tampere.
The Gender and Communication Section of the International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR) invites the submission of abstracts of papers and proposals for panels for the 2020 Congress of the Association, which will be held from 12 to 16 July, 2020 at Tampere University in Tampere. Submissions for this extraordinary reopening will be accepted from Monday 17 February, 2020 until Monday 2 March 2020 at 23:59 UTC.
IAMCR conferences address many diverse topics defined by our 33 thematic sections and working groups. We also propose a single central theme to be explored throughout the conference with the aim of generating and exploring multiple perspectives in plenary sessions and in some of the sessions of the sections and working groups. The general conference theme for 2020 is “Reimagining the Digital Future: Building Inclusiveness, Respect and Reciprocity”.
See the IAMCR 2020 general call for proposals.
The Gender and Communication Section seeks research that balances theory and practice, and explores the relationship between gender, media, and communication. In recent years, the sessions have included papers on body image, queer theory, pop culture, social change, HIV/AIDS, violence, human rights, discrimination, media production, media reception, media representations, media monitoring, elections, digital identity, development, and media consumption. The papers also look at diverse forms of media such as film, television, radio, print, social media, advertising, and the Internet. In keeping with our philosophy of inclusivity, we welcome contributions without regard to empirical, theoretical, disciplinary, and/or philosophical perspectives.
We welcome submissions on any topic involving gender, media, and communication. However, please note, we will give special consideration to papers and panel proposals that examine connections to the conference theme: Reimagining the Digital Future: Building Inclusiveness, Respect and Reciprocity.
We would like to encourage early career scholars to tackle the intersections of gender, identity, dignity and sexuality with media and communication processes. Themes suggested, which seem more consonant with our current section, include (but are not limited to):
- Gender, voice, and visibility
- Gender identity and equality
- Gender expression and social participation
- Gender rights and the achievement of universal dignity
- Gender and sustainability
- Gender and social equity, economic prosperity, or environmental health
- Gender and climate change
- Gender and the environment
- Gender in higher education and pedagogy
- Gender and social movements
- Gender and (eco)territorial conflicts
- Social media campaigns of women and non-binary people
- Women and/or femme resistance
- Queer and LGBTQIA+ resistance
- Gender and conflict
- Gender, misrepresentation, and authenticity
- Gender and development
- Gender, consumption, and aspiration
- Sexuality and technology
- Marginalised sexualities: representation and resistance
- Gender, sexuality, and violence
- Technology and/as gender
- Contested representations of gender
- Gendered identities and experiences online
- Debates about gender and inclusion
- Queer theory and digital culture
- Queer experiences and gendered futures
Languages
We encourage the submission of abstracts of individual papers and proposals for panels in English, Spanish, and French languages. Note: We may consolidate the Spanish/French presentations in specific instead of regular sessions to limit language barriers. The presenters interested in scheduling their Spanish/French presentations in regular sessions may invite their bilingual colleagues to interpret their presentations.
Submission information
Abstracts should be between 300 and 500 words. All abstracts must be submitted at https://iamcr2020.exordo.com. Abstracts sent by email will not be accepted.
Guidelines for paper submission:
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Abstracts should be between 300 and 500 words in length, and should:
- Outline the research objectives/questions/hypothesis.
- Outline the theoretical framework and methodology, if relevant.
- Clearly propose the main argument.
- Not include bibliographies and author profiles in the abstracts.
- Make theoretical contribution.
- Be original and/or significant.
- Be free of jargons and language errors.
- Be relevant to the work of the GEN.
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The paper should have a clear title.
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The submission will ask for details of the name(s) of author(s) and professional title(s) (i.e. professor, postdoctoral fellow, independent researcher, graduate student, student, etc.). Do not include this information in your abstract, as it will go through a blind peer review process.
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Panel proposals should include a panel description (panel title, names of authors and titles of each presentation, details of the moderator and optional discussant, and a framing text) and an abstract for each presentation. Please check carefully the IAMCR guidelines for panel proposals. Panels shall include 4 or 5 papers. Only the IAMCR/GEN members, or registered conference participants may chair or moderate the panel discussion/session. The conference registration is mandatory for an outside moderator or chair.
It is expected that authors will submit only one (1) abstract. However, under no circumstances should there be more than two (2) abstracts bearing the name of the same author, either individually or as part of any group of authors. Please note also that the same abstract or another version with minor variations in title or content must not be submitted to more than one section or working group. Any such submissions will be deemed to be in breach of the conference guidelines and will be rejected. Authors submitting them risk being removed entirely from the conference programme. You can submit only one (1) abstract to the Gender and Communication Section.
Upon submission of an abstract, you will be asked to confirm that your submission is original and it has not been previously published in the form presented. You will also be given an opportunity to declare if your submission is currently before another conference for consideration.
Presenters are expected to bring fully developed work to the conference. They are encouraged to upload a completed paper to the IAMCR submission platform prior to the conference, or to share it with the Section, Session Chairs, and/or Discussants prior to the conference.
The Gender and Communication section encourages its members to take part in their moderation and chairing sessions. Please let us know if you are interested in moderating or chairing the GEN sessions at the IAMCR 2020 - Tampere Conference, or in assisting in managing the sessions on 12-16 July 2020.
Furthermore, we are looking for volunteers to take part in the blind peer review system, especially from members fluent in English, Spanish and French. We would also like to encourage our bilingual participants and members to volunteer to interpret the Spanish and French paper presentations at our sessions in Tampere. If interested, please contact the Co-Chairs or Vice Chairs, Wajiha Raza Rizvi (wajiharaza@fulbrightmail.org) or Mehita Iqani (Mehita.Iqani@wits.ac.za), or Shweta Arpit Srivastava (ssrivastava@monmouthcollege.edu) or Laura Castillo (laura.castillo@uji.es). Success in organizing the conference relies on the assistance from our members.
Decisions on acceptance of abstracts will be communicated to individual applicants by a section chair no later than 7 April 2020.
See important dates and deadlines to keep in mind
For further information, please consult the conference website, or contact the Local Organizing Committee by email: tampere2020@iamcr.org or the heads of the Gender and Communication Section.
Co-Chair: Wajiha Raza Rizvi (wajiharaza@fulbrightmail.org)
Co-Chair: Mehita Iqani (Mehita.Iqani@wits.ac.za)
Vice chair: Shweta Arpit Srivastava (ssrivastava@monmouthcollege.edu)
Vice chair: Laura Castillo (laura.castillo@uji.es)