Last month I attended the International Feminist Journal of Politics (IFJP) conference for the first time. The theme this year was "Decolonizing Knowledges in Feminist World Politics" and it was hosted by the University of Cincinnati, just across the river from where I went to high school in Northern Kentucky.
As I was preparing my presentation it occurred to me this would be the first time I would be attending a conference about international politics where the audience would be primarily (if not exclusively!) made of feminists. This is a wonderful feeling! Roxanne Kristalli created a Storify of tweets from the weekend so be sure to scroll through to get a sense of some of the conversations and panels at the conference.
It was fantastic to have the opportunity to meet some of the feminist scholars who have so influenced my work, including V. Spike Peterson. I also really enjoyed the panel about a new book edited by Annick Weber, Researching War. The book will be a great teaching tool but also includes chapters where researchers reflect on challenges, mistakes made, and the responsibility that comes with being a feminist researcher engaged in projects researching war. I already snagged a copy!
My presentation was about a project I'm just starting regarding queer asylum seekers and I was able to get some very helpful and motivating feedback that I will be sure to channel as I continue writing over the summer.