Genre-blurring as Feminist Practice and Methodology
Austin, Texas
Women of Color Caucus (WOCC)
Conference Dates: Thursday, April 30 – Saturday, May 2, 2026
Genre-blurring as Feminist Practice and Methodology (WOCC scholarship panel)
The MELUS Women of Color Caucus (WOCC) seeks scholars examining works by Black, Indigenous, and other writers of color whose texts–books, collections, film, or music–approach the blurring of genre boundaries as a feminist practice. Oftentimes, this genre blurring occurs as subversive resistance to others in power who would limit the scope of particular ideas. This work may also include autotheoretical and personal aspects that foreground the writers’ experiences or tell collective stories of a marginalized group. How does this approach open up our understanding of literary history and conventions, publishing and writing practices, and/or the borders we draw around what we read, teach, or write? How does this blurring act form a response to oppressive or inadequate institutions such as publishing or academia?
Examples of these kinds of writers span multiple centuries, and include scholars such as Ida B.. Wells, W.E.B. DuBois, Saidiya Harman, and Christina Sharpe, as well as writers whose individual works often fall under multiple generic modes such as Claudia Rankine, Cathy Park Hong, Carmen Maria Machado, Terese Marie Mailhot, and Elissa Washuta.
We welcome presentations that examine the stakes and impacts of these methods on the academy, on the field of multi-ethnic American literature, and in the classroom, as well as literary historical examinations of genre blurring as a critical principle.
Abstracts of no more than 250 words in Word or PDF, along with your name, e-mail address, and institutional affiliation (if applicable) are due by February 19, 2026, to MilneL@uindy.edu.