Keynote Speaker: Angela McRobbie

Feminism has always found significant expression in creative
and critical literature, from poetry and pamphlets to modes of
the digital age: Twittering and blogging. Yet with its shifting
social and political manifestations, the term feminism itself has
frequently been seen to raise as many questions as supposed
answers, leaving it open to revision, contestation and new
expression. This conference seeks to examine the varied and
diverse ways in which contemporary women's writing since
1970 has engaged with and continues to respond to the 'the f
word'.

Marking the centenary of Emily Wilding Davison's legacy on
the women's movement, this two-day conference will
investigate how feminisms are particularly represented within
contemporary women's writing in its broadest sense: from
novels and short stories through to journalism and children's
literature. This cross-genre approach aims to consider the
wider social and cultural impact of feminist politics, including
the influence of new media and social networks.

'The F Word in Contemporary Women's Writing' seeks responses which examine the generational implications of first, second and third wave feminism(s) and postfeminism upon contemporary literary culture. How might contemporary women's writing emphasise the legacy and continuing relevancy of
feminism? And how might literature effect possible feminist futures?

In considering these questions, we are welcoming papers from diverse disciplines including literature,
linguistics, film studies, cultural studies, women's studies, history, music, media and communications etc.
Topics may include but are certainly not limited to:

• Literary Sisterhood(s) – Intertexts and Influences
• Woman, womyn, wimmin, girl, grrrls and CWW
• Activism, (new) protests and contemporary feminist
fictions
• National, transnational, global and diasporic feminist
writings
• Lesbian, queer and transgender engagements with literary
feminisms
• Postfeminism: from backlash, New Traditionalist to 'chick-
lit' writings
• Raunch culture, pornography and objectification in/on
contemporary women's writing
• Songs, lyrics and verse in contemporary women's writing –
from Riot Grrrls to Carol Ann Duffy
• Modern feminist classics (both cultural and literary texts)
• The Digital Age and Cyber feminist writings
• Feminist screenwriting and theatre
• Synergies and antagonistic relationships with men's writing
• Feminist writing and marginal identities

Please submit abstracts of 300 words for 20-minute papers via email to thefword@pgcwwn.org by Friday 5th October 2012