“Hidden Histories:
Reshaping Canons, Reimagining Archives, Making Gender Visible”

June 6-8, 2024
(in person and virtual)

AWSS welcomes paper proposals from scholars in all disciplines who engage in research that focuses on uncovering or discovering new information relating to gender in order to reframe received knowledge and reshape some of the historical and/or discursive parameters in a given field. Topics might include archival finds, unexpected juxtapositions, productive experiences of cross-pollination between fields, and various “eureka moments” that have illuminated or brought gender into focus in a new way. We particularly welcome proposals that advance the AWSS mission whether by seeking to improve the general public’s understanding about women, gender, and sexuality or by challenging sexist, homophobic, transphobic, racist, classist, ableist, and ageist structures that reproduce injustice.

The conference is hosted by the Slavic Reference Service at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. The conference will be conducted as a hybrid event (Central Time) and will accept papers from participants who wish to attend virtually. It will begin in the afternoon of June 6 and end in early afternoon on June 8.

The expectation is that both virtual and in-person participants will be present for all paper sessions. There is no registration fee for the conference, but we do strongly encourage all participants to become members of AWSS. Sessions will be available virtually to the greater AWSS and UIUC communities.

To submit a proposal:

The deadline for the submission of proposals is Friday, January 20, 2024. Please send a one-page abstract (no more than 500 words) and a one-page CV to president.awss@gmail.com with the subject “2024 AWSS UIUC Proposal,” indicating in your email whether you plan to attend online or in person. Any questions should be directed to the same address.

Early career scholars (graduate students and recent PhDs), contingent faculty, and independent scholars will be prioritized for limited travel funds which can be utilized for travel or lodging costs.

In-person participants will be provided physical access to the UIUC Library’s collections and services; those wishing to extend their visit can apply to the Summer Research Laboratory which will begin the following week (June 10). Please note: there is a separate application and review process for the Summer Lab. Please contact the SRS for more information: srscite@library.illinois.edu.