Past Conferences > Feminist Discourse: Theories, Practices, Challenges
(November 7-8, 2003)

A William A. Kern Communications Conference In Cooperation with Women's Studies Quarterly and The Feminist Press

This conference was the last of the three Kern conference presented in conjunction with Women’s Studies Quarterly and The Feminist Press. The conference explored feminist discourse as a source and a focus of significant disciplinary and interdisciplinary change in the arts, humanities, social sciences, sciences and technology. Investigations of the gendered production of knowledge and the complex constructs of social, economic and political power have impacted curricula, theory and research. Individual and community relationships to our physical bodies and to the material and natural environments have been recast. Practices throughout the academy reflect and acknowledge the central place of gender in teaching and learning and in student life. Yet feminism is lively with challenge and contested in multiple ways from within and without communities of higher education.

Opening remarks, “Feminist Rebirth, Revisited,” by Diane S. Hope was followed by Session I, Feminist Practices in Arts and History” with panels of scholars on Women in the Arts, Women as History. Session II, “ Theory and Challenges in Science and Society” featured panels on Feminist Theory in Technology and Science, and Challenges: Social Norms and Social Change in the Academy.

Andrew Moore, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts, RIT, spoke briefly on “Women’s Studies and the College of Liberal Arts.”

Keynote speaker, Mari Boor Tonn, University of Maryland presented an address titled, “Fighting Feminism: Exploring Triumphs and Obstacles in Feminist Politics and Scholarship.” Dr. Tonn’s address was published subsequently in the Fall (2004) issue of Women’s Studies in Communication( Vol. 27, Issue 3).

Session III Feminism, Communication and Learning, followed with panels on Feminist Practices: Public Policy, Evaluation and Publishing, and Challenges: Teaching Women’s Studies.

The conference ended on Saturday November 8, with a group tour of the Women’s National Hall of Fame at Seneca Falls, NY