2017 British Women Writers Conference
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
June 21-24, 2017
For its 25th annual meeting, the British Women Writers Conference invites papers and panel proposals considering the theme of “Generations.” As the conference organizers look back on a quarter-century of feminist scholarship and practice within British Studies, they wants to celebrate those who have defined the British Women Writers Association’s past and nurture those who will shape its future. Of course, even within literary traditions or scholarly networks, generational transitions are rarely ever easy or smooth. Such transitions may be accompanied by paradigm shifts, struggles to be heard, or difficulty letting go. The organizers therefore welcome investigations into the complexities of generational exchange and transition in women’s writing. Papers may focus on generation as a biological, cultural, social, historical, or political process as well as on attendant manifestations in eighteenth- and nineteenth-century literature and contemporary scholarly discourses. In the end, the organizers hope that a comprehensive exploration of generations will help illuminate shifts in literary studies, women’s writing, and critical practice.
Possible topics may include, but are not limited to:
By January 15, 2017, send 300-word abstracts for paper proposals, along with a brief bio (in one document) to bwwc2017@gmail.com. Panel proposals should include individual paper abstracts, short speaker bios, as well as a brief panel description (in one document). All proposals must engage the conference theme and relate to British women’s writing during the long eighteenth or nineteenth centuries. Graduate students are encouraged to apply for a travel grant sponsored by the BWWA.