Gender and Music: Practices, Performances, Politics

16th-18th March 2016
School of Music, Theatre and Art, Örebro University, Sweden

From challenging the idea that music is an inherently democratic medium, to observing how we should approach music as a political tool, musicians, activists and feminist theorists have done a great deal to change the way people think about music. At the same time, the way in which gender has often been challenged and subverted through music has also fuelled political discussion about gender as performative, malleable and diverse.

Nevertheless, gender inequalities, in terms of representation in music education and the music industries, are evident. Access to resources, participation in musical activities and the way in which musical images can reproduce certain gendered stereotypes, also still persist. In addition, the absence of an intersectional focus (in both public debate and academic research) has often meant that multiple power dynamics are neglected. This international, interdisciplinary conference, hosted by the School of Music, Theatre and Art at Örebro University, will seek to explore new directions in gender research for thinking about access to music, music production, music participation, musicology and music criticism but also intends to look at how we can continue to challenge gendered social inequalities through researching and analysing music.

Keynote speakers include:

• Professor Susan McClary (Case Western Reserve University) – Author of Feminine Endings: Music, Gender and Sexuality
• Professor Jack Halberstam (University of Southern California) – Author of Gaga Feminism: Sex, Gender and the End of Normal
• Professor Stan Hawkins (University of Oslo) – Author of The British Pop Dandy: Masculinity, Popular Music and Culture

The aim of the conference is to foster interdisciplinary dialogues between those researching music and gender in different fields, from across the world, with a view to establishing international collaborations in the future between researchers and practitioners. We welcome submissions particularly from (but not limited to) those looking at music and gender working in:

• Musicology
• Feminist theory
• Queer approaches
• Critical studies on men and masculinities
• Media and communication
• Sociology
• Cultural studies
• Music education
• Philosophy

Submissions

Abstract submissions should be no longer than 350 words and should be sent to [email protected]. The deadline for abstract submissions is 30th September 2015. Presentations should be 20 minutes long and must be delivered in English.

Applicants will receive a response regarding the outcome of their submission by the end of October 2015 and registration will open from November 1st 2015.

Attendance to the event and the conference dinner is free however we kindly ask that conference speakers are able to stay for the duration of the (12pm on Wednesday 16th until 1.30pm Friday 18th) in order to contribute to discussions and other presentations.

For more details, please go to the conference website at: http://www.oru.se/Institutioner/Musikhogskolan/Konferenser/Konferenser/gemus