The Newsletter of the Gender Studies Program at Northwestern University

SPRING 2008, v o l u m e 18 Iss u e 2

Queertopia! — Notes on an Academic Festival 2008 award winners by Theo Greene

orthwestern’s Queer Pride Graduate rum for graduate students to present their scholarly Student Association (QPGSA) held its in- work on queer topics in a supportive environment, N augural graduate student festival, entitled we also wanted to create a space to bridge our re- Queertopia!, on April 25 and 26, 2008. search interests with those of the communities we The festival kicked research. Splitting off Friday evening at our festival between Northwestern Uni- Northwestern’s versity, with “Other campus and Center Sharlyn Grace, winner of the Moses Leadership Pleasures: A Queer on Halsted has Award with Director of Undergraduate Studies Amy Burlesque Review.” become a defining Partridge. (Photo: Kristina Ogilvie)

This performance characteristic of this At the annual spring awards banquet in June, and talkback brought festival; one of the Gender Studies recognized its graduating together some of the reasons we held the seniors and presented three undergraduate Chicago’s top burlesque conference outside prizes. performers to engage of an academic Betty Jo Teeter Dobbs Prize, for the best senior in conversation on the space was to get honors thesis written in the Program: Katherine Gorringe ’08, for “When She Sings, I Hear Revolu- often overlooked topic more of the commu- photo: Kathleen Fitzgerald tion: Radical Feminist Demands on Women in of queer sexual pleasure nity involved. Sixty Popular Music, 1969-1973.” The award commit- and live performance (see photo at right.) people participated in this event, representing 20 tee lauded the thesis as “an original, carefully re- An all-day interdisciplinary graduate student institutions, some from as far away as California searched and well-written thesis that represents a contribution to recent historical accounts of conference followed on Saturday, April 26, at Center and New York. the theoretical formulations and political goals of on Halsted in the Lakeview/Boystown neighborhood The conference included panels examining Chi- ‘second wave’ feminism and to recent work on of Chicago. cago queer history, queer identities in social move- social movement formation and consolidation.” QPGSA designed this two-day event with two ments, queer representations in literature, televi- In particular, the committee noted that the thesis “provides a spectrum of radical feminist positions things in mind. While we wanted to provide a fo- sion and film, genderqueer access to healthcare and rather than trying to produce a monolithic version marriage, and queer theory as an analytical tool to of radical feminism.” critique social and political structures. From the director’s desk Many of the panelists featured research by George C. Casey Prize, for the best undergradu- Northwestern graduate students. Tristan Ca- ate essay on any topic relating to the situation of bello (History) presented “The White Queens gender and society: Cora Leech ’08, for “Rape ou will transition. Myths in Romance Novels: More Troubling This was one of the Got Scared!” which focused on Bronzeville’s gay than Porn?” written for Dr. Don Misch’s Gender very clever “gender- nightlife during 1935 – 1965. Jeff Kosbie (Sociol- Studies course “Sexual Assault in America.” The Y award committee praised Leech’s essay for its fortunes” our undergradu- ogy) addressed the ways in which black feminist ate group created for our and black queer theories could provide potential “skillful interweaving of categories of rape myths models for gay rights scholars. Stefanie Bator (His- with her reading of selected romance novels, spring Gender Studies interrogating how the fictions at once mirror and Open House, remaking tory) presented “But He Didn’t Live Happy Ever create dominant cultural myths about rape.” (rebaking?) the idea of the Jeffrey Masten After: Sexuality and the Ideal Man in Tarzan and Honorable Mention went to Megan Brown ’08 fortune cookie. the Apes,” a paper queering Edgar Rice Burrough’s for “Super Women, Tip Drills & Kobe Bryant: Open House participants 1914 novel by examining how the character of Rape Disclosure among African Americans,” also written for Misch’s course. and anyone else who stopped by the Gen- Tarzan, in spite of his idealized manhood, does not fit the model of twentieth-century heterosexuality. der Studies Program office in the weeks that Rae Arlene Moses Leadership Award, presented followed read (and ate) actual cookies and Among the panelists who presented during to a graduating senior who has fostered initia- confronted their provocative, witty, sometimes the conference, we were also fortunate to offer an tives and demonstrated leadership, both within gnomic, and revolutionary predictions. “You opportunity for undergraduate students to present the classroom and in co-curricular Program activities: 2007-08 Undergraduate Board co-chair will stop the traffic in women.” “You will their original research. April Ledbetter, a third- year English major and McNair Scholar at UCLA, Sharlyn Grace ’08. Under the direction of Grace deconstruct hegemony.” “You will experience a and co-chair Marissa Faustini ’09, the board MAJOR change.” “Strategic essentialism works presented a paper comparing the depictions of het- produced an especially active year of events. for you.” erosexual characters Remus Lupin and Sirius Black in the Harry Potter novels with depictions of their

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continued from page 1 From the director’s desk Gendered Connections Queertopia! -- Notes on an Academic Festival continued from page 1 “You will transition,” in its prediction of a the fall, Alison and senior levels; record homosexual relationship in The Shoebox sermon competition, Shannon T.L. Furness coming transgender or transsexual change for Boyd (Art History), numbers of courses, offered Project, the most widely read story in Harry Kearns of the Union Theological Seminary Gender Studies organized and cosponsored its recipient, neatly summarizes a theme in the who joins current students by regular faculty and a Potter “slash fiction.” Darlene Edgley, a in New York, drew upon Ezekiel 37: 1 – a wide range of events at Northwestern this year – from events coordinated with courses, activities of our exceptionally energetic Under- with home departments in Eng- dynamic roster of local and in- fourth-year Women’s Studies major, also at 14 to examine the transgender experience UCLA, examined social networks among as being able to lead into a discussion of to collaborations with student groups and other graduate Board this year. With the leadership lish and Performance Studies. ternational visitors; new graduate departments and programs, to conferences on of co-chairs Marissa Faustini ’09 and Sharlyn It’s a time of transition for Gender fellowships in Gender Studies through African-American breast cancer survivors. gendered embodiment and authentic resur- gender and sexuality issues. Here’s a selection Grace ’08, the guidance of Associate Director Studies in several other ways. Sadly, we bid the Graduate School’s interdisciplinary Queertopia!’s keynote address featured rection. of our activities; photos and full event descrip- of Gender Studies Amy Partridge, and the sup- farewell to Professor Linda Zerilli, who “cluster” initiative; and renewed visibility of Amy Villarejo, Associate Professor in Film Queertopia! concluded with a “Queer- tions are available on the Gender Studies website. port of Program Assistant Katy Weseman, the leaves Northwestern for a position in Politi- Gender Studies’ unique status as a vibrant, and Director of the Feminist, Gender, and storming Session” designed to promote new Sexuality Program at Cornell University. ideas and new approaches in queer research, student Board organized a series of events on cal Science at the University of Chicago. multi-faceted, interdisciplinary program at October 26, 2007 Chicago Area Women’s and transgender issues in Winter and Spring Quar- We will miss Linda’s intellectual commit- Northwestern. Prof. Villarejo’s talk, written especially and an evening reception in the new Irving Gender Studies Internship Fair at Roosevelt Uni- ters. As you will see elsewhere in this newslet- ment and generosity to Gender Studies Together we transition to a new director, for this conference and delivered at the Harris Reception Hall and Daley Roof Gar- versity, cosponsored with other area Women’s ter, the Board brought transgender activist Julia at Northwestern, but we look forward to Ann Orloff, Professor of Sociology and conference lunch, considered queer im- den at Center on Halsted, with its spectacu- and Gender Studies Programs Serano to campus and organized an event with future conversations as she remains a part longtime core faculty member in Gender ages in the context of a “new, new queer lar view of the Chicago skyline. cinema.” Cautioning against a critical Both as a conference and an event November 6, 2007 Alexandra Robbins, cospon- the “genderqueer” media collective “Actor Slash of the local gender studies community. Studies. Ann’s current research is profiled sored with the College Feminists Model.” As the cookie says, I will transition too – on page 6 of this newsletter. approach to queer media that focuses only attracting visibility in the Chicago area, Additionally, some students took fieldtrips to this is the last of these columns I will write, We welcome Ann as director, and look on positive representations of queer people, Queertopia! far exceeded our expectations. November 20, 2007 “Autonomy and Solidar- the Chicago History Museum’s acclaimed “Out as I’m now concluding my term as director forward to the continued growth and Prof. Villarejo argued that, in the context of We had no idea that Queertopia! would ity: Gender and the Zapatista Movement,” a at CHM” series to hear transgender historian of the program. I’m happy to look back dynamism of Gender Studies at Northwest- international queer cinema which emerges gain the attention of the Chicago gay, Presentation by the Mexico Solidarity Network, on the things we have together been able ern. Meanwhile, best wishes for a smooth from many different geographic, political lesbian, and trans community newspapers organized by the Gender Studies Undergradu- Susan Stryker, as well as Gender Studies and ate Board History faculty member Lane Fenrich. The to build in Gender Studies at Northwest- transition to summer! and economic contexts, audiences and critics The Windy City Times and Chicago Free Board also brought lesbian filmmaker and ern over the past three years – additional —Jeffrey Masten should consider the relationship between the Press, who wanted to share our project with November 27, 2007 Amanda Gouws, Edith scholar Michelle Citron to campus for a lunch- tenure-line and lecturer positions in the diaspora and migration, while paying atten- their readers. We were also humbled by the Kreeger Wolf Distinguished Visiting Professor, time discussion and evening lecture. program; faculty recruitment at the junior tion to “world-making structures here and overwhelming outpouring of support of “The Consolidation of Democracy in South This year, through the extraordinary generos- elsewhere.” The lunchtime keynote was made our colleagues, professors, mentors, Africa: What Prospects?” ity of Garry G. Mathiason, we have been able possible through the generosity of the and friends. We are especially Gender Studies Program. grateful to Northwestern’s November 29, 2007 Angela Davis, “Building to give additional financial support to these Activist Communities,” cosponsored with the Queertopia! afternoon events Graduate School (Associ- programming activities of the Undergraduate Feminist Interventions in Western Political Thought Peace Project included a film panel examining ate Dean Simon Greenwold continued on page 6 Board and to travel scholarships for Gender by Marissa Faustini ’09 Studies majors attending scholarly conferences issues affecting the transgender and Sarah Keepman); The communities. Documenta- Center on Halsted (Operations such as the annual Duke Feminist Theory In each newsletter, Gender Studies asks ries included Manager Thomas Dow, Workshop. Mathiason is the father of Gender a student to introduce a course to our our scope disciplinarily, offering a day of the feature- Executive Director Studies alum and award-winner Jessie Mathia- readers. Marissa Faustini ‘09 contributed events which explore how sexualities are length docu- Modesto “Tico” son ’07, and we are very grateful for his support this description of a Winter 2008 course by read through performance, art, and film. mentary Still Valle, as well as Pat- of our undergraduate program. new faculty member Mary G. Dietz (Gender We also will seek to expand the field of Black, directed rick Sheehan, & the In other “transition” news, the Gender Stud- Studies and Political Science). intellectual inquiry, including panels that ies Reading Group has been revitalized this year by Northwestern Board of Directors), engage the divides between spirituality and Northwestern’s Gen- under the leadership of Kasey Evans, Assis- Since the 1970s, feminist political graduate student sexuality and between activism and aca- tant Professor of English and Gender Studies theorists have offered critical interpreta- Kortney Ryan Ziegler der Studies Program, demia. Additionally, through Queertopia!, faculty affiliate. We have read and had spirited tions of the “canon” of Western political (African American Studies) Northwestern’s Can- we hope to build our queer community, discussions of Andrew Parker and Janet E. Hal- theory. In addition to interrogating canoni- and exploring the lives of six terbury House and reaching out to universities and colleges ley’s “After Sex” special issue of South Atlantic cal texts and writers, these theorists have black transgender men living in University of Chicago across the nation, to build a dialogue about Quarterly, Diana Fuss’s The Sense of an Interior, destabilized the concept of the canon the United States. Through the Brent House (Rev. Liz the directions of queer research. In short, and Halley’s Split Decisions. itself, revealing a gender bias which tends photo: Kristina Ogilvie intimate stories of their lives Stedman), Kellogg’s Gay we hope to make Chicago in springtime The Gender Studies Doctoral Colloquium to privilege male voices as authorities as artists, students, husbands, and Lesbian Management the place to be for young queer scholars has also had an active year, with meetings to on justice, freedom, and citizenship. The cal Thought.” Throughout the quarter, we fathers, lawyers, and teach- Association (Michi Murako, to get together, share scholarship, build discuss articles-in-progress by Gender Studies canonization of these “epic theorists,” looked closely at the work of classic theo- ers, the film offers viewers a Mitch Rolnick, and Teo networks, and create the dialogue that will Graduate Certificate students, and roundtable whose work often diminishes or entirely rists from Plato to Nietzsche, and engaged complex and multifaceted Ornelas), the fine people at take the study of sexualities to the next level. discussions on “methodologies” and “identities” neglects the question of women, also in a radical rereading of the canon. Mov- image of race, sexuality, Caribou Coffee Boystown, Photos will be available this summer on from our various disciplinary perspectives. Thanks tends to render invisible the work of con- ing beyond simply “the woman question,” and trans-identity. and our photographer, the Northwestern QPGSA website, http:// to Sarah Mesle for her organizational work. temporary female theorists. we asked how gender, sex, and sexuality An innovative “sermon Kathleen Fitzgerald. groups.northwestern.edu/queerpride. Our Interdisciplinary Graduate Cluster This winter, Professor Mary Dietz further provide frames of analysis through which competition” was one of Plans are already un- canonical texts can be both critiqued and Theo Greene, a second-year graduate student fellowships received record applicants this year, complicated this project in her class the highlights of the day. derway for Queertopia! revaluated by feminist political theorists. in Sociology, is Co-President of Northwestern’s and we will welcome a new Cluster Fellow in “Feminist Interventions in Western Politi- Five seminary students 2.0, which we hope will each delivered a queer- expand on the many Queer Pride Graduate Student Association. positive sermon to a discussions started at Along with Kelby Harrison (Ph.D. candidate in congregation for a cash the 2008 conference. Philosophy and 2007-08 Gender Studies Teach- prize. The winner of the We hope to expand ing Assistant), Greene co-chaired Queertopia! 2 SPRING 2008, v o l u m e 18 Iss u e 2 3

Faculty News, Honors, and Achievements If Brokeback was Black by Kelby Harrison Micaela di Leonardo (Anthropology) recently deliv- Gender of Violence” at Princeton University, led a Jeffrey Masten (Gender Studies and English) ered a paper at Rutgers University on her current Newberry Library Seminar on “Mrs. Dalloway as was awarded a fellowship at the Folger Library in n February 25, 2008, University themselves within the complex racial and research, and will be a keynote speaker for the Public Elegy: Women, War, and the Art of Mourning,” Washington, D.C., for work on his book Spelling sexual dynamics of contemporary culture. Performance Studies Summer Institute on Radical and organized an MLA panel titled “Joyce Lost and Shakespeare and Other Essays in Queer Philology. of Maryland Assistant Professor of Performance, Neoliberalism, and Human Rights at Found: The National Library of Ireland Manuscripts.” This spring he presented the paper “Glossing and O American Studies and Women’s McCune argued that the down-low is Northwestern. Recent publications include a review essay entitled Tupping/Glossing and T**ping: Sexuality and Race Studies Jeffrey Q. McCune, Jr. gave a talk always racial. He also clearly stated that he “Giacomo Joyce or Assumed Dongiovannism,” “Sex” in Othello,” at the annual meeting of the Shake- entitled “If Brokeback was Black.” A recent can envision the down-low as white. The Alice Eagly (Psychology) has been awarded the Gold for Joyce in Context (forthcoming from Cambridge speare Association of America. Ph.D. graduate of Northwestern’s Perfor- narrative of Brokeback, he argued, illustrates Medal for Lifetime Achievement in the Science of University Press), and “On French and British mance Studies Department and a recipient a positionality of the white down-low. He Psychology from the American Psychological Foun- Freedoms: Early Bloomsbury” (a 2005 essay now Fran Paden (Gender Studies and Writing Program) dation of the American Psychological Association. In reprinted in Portugal). Froula also wrote a libretto, published “Emblematic Sculptures: The Artwork of of the Gender Studies Graduate Certificate, demonstrated this through a close reading March, Eagly gave a keynote address at the Eastern “Heloise and Abelard,” for composer John Austin. Felix Gonzalez-Torres” in Teaching Life Writing Texts Prof. McCune spent his graduate years of a particularly acute scene, where Ennis Psychological Association in Boston titled “Sex differ- (Modern Language Association Press, 2008), an es- thinking about “the down-low”—African- and Jack are reunited after four years and ences in human behavior: What are their origins?” Bonnie Honig (Political Science) published Emergen- say inspired by her teaching of the course “Gender American men who live public and family entwine in a passionate embrace outside and cy Politics: Paradox, Law, Democracy, (forthcoming and Autobiography.” In collaboration with Northwest- lives as heterosexuals and engage in private down below the apartment home of Ennis, Jillana Enteen (Gender Studies) has recently from Princeton University Press). She also received a ern faculty member Bill Paden (French and Italian), published several essays, including “Lesbian Stud- grant from the American Philosophical Society to fin- Paden presented on their recent book, Troubadour sexual lives with other men. Prof. McCune’s through a moment of confession that divides his wife and daughter. The scene is both ies in Thailand” in Twenty-First Century Lesbian ish her book entitled Antigone, Interrupted at Oxford Poems from the South of France, at Northwestern talk directly engaged questions of race, the a subject temporally between past lies hid- visually metaphorical of the positionality of Studies (Haworth Press, 2008) and the preface to University next academic year. and at the Newberry Library, and delivered a paper down-low, passing, read alongside images den away in closets and present truths. the down-low and framed by their love story South Asian Technospaces (Peter Lang Publishing, entitled “Translating Desire in Troubadour Poems” at of same-sex sexual desire in the recent film The down-low, McCune argues, is as the appropriate temporal and spatial loca- 2008). She presented papers entitled “Gay Bangkok Louise (Lucy) W. Knight (Communication Studies) the International Medieval Congress. Brokeback Mountain. subsumed by the closet in our modern tion of their passion. Online,” at the National Communication Associa- delivered a talk at Center on Halsted, Chicago’s How do we understand ourselves as rhetoric. This isn’t satisfactory. In McCune’s Our modern rhetoric of sexual identity tion Annual Convention, and “Bangkok: Gay, and LGBT Community Center on “Love on Halsted Street: Julia Stern (English) was named Charles Deering Thai,” at the Association for Internet Researchers A Contemplation on Jane Addams.” She also contrib- McCormick Professor of Teaching Excellence, North- sexual subjects? This is a guiding question analysis, the down-low does not have a time would describe Ennis and Jack as passing. Annual Convention. In addition, she co-organized the uted entries on Jane Addams and Gloria Steinem to western’s highest teaching honor. for McCune’s research. In a post-Stonewall narrative associated with it. There is no goal However, as McCune argued, they do not “Feminist Internet Researchers” pre-conference at the International Encyclopedia on Revolution and world, being “out” is understood as an of “coming-out.” The narrative of the closet, want to be liberated from their respective the Console-ing Passions conference. Protest (forthcoming from Blackwell-Wiley, 2009). Sandi Wisenberg (Visiting Scholar) was a keynote absolute criterion of liberation. As the recent however, has too often subsumed the down- closets; they do not want their love to be speaker at the Examined Life: Writing and the Art of disclosures of public figures that have passed low as duplicitous behavior and describes publicly exposed; they are content to live Lane Fenrich (History) delivered a lecture entitled Phyllis Lassner (Writing Program) is hosting the Medicine conference held at the University of Iowa. “That’s Not How It Works: Sexual Politics from the tenth annual conference of The Space Between Her blog-based book, Cancer Bitch, has been ac- as heterosexual may suggest (McCune it as “passing.” But rather than “passing,” their lives together on the white down-low. Lavender Scare to Larry Craig” as part of the Chica- Society: Literature and Culture 1914-1945 at North- cepted for publication (University of Iowa, forthcom- cited Rep. Mark Foley, Rev. Ted Haggard, McCune argues that the down-low must Prof. McCune’s talk was followed by a go History Museum’s Out at CHM series. This spring, western this summer. Her essay “The View from a ing). In addition, excerpts from the forthcoming book and Gov. James McGreevey), our modern be understood as a positionality, one way vigorous question and answer session. Fenrich was named Charles Deering McCormick Crevice: Isaiah Spiegel’s ‘Bread’” was published in and her essay on marching with Code Pink to protest sexual identities take shape as sexual subjects of understanding how sexual subjects place University Distinguished Lecturer, Northwestern’s The Call of Memory (Ben Yehuda Press, 2008) and the war in Iraq were both recently aired on WBEZ, highest teaching honor. her essay “‘Words That Can’t Be Spoken’: Lesbian Chicago Public Radio. Love in the Third Reich” was published in War-Torn Christine Froula (English) delivered a paper entitled Tales: Literature, Film and Gender in the Aftermath “American Feminism, Freedom of Speech, and the of World War II (Peter Lang Publishing, 2007). Julia Serano Presents “Transsexual and Transfeminine Perspectives on Sexism” by C. Nern Ostendorf ’09 Graduate Student Updates n May 15, the Gender faculty at a brown-bag lunch event to Studies Undergraduate discuss and dismantle the theory of Board enthusiastically autogynephilia, a term coined by Canadian Katy Chiles (English) has accepted an appointment Culture, Queer Publics, and Commercial Space,” entitled “Him, Timmy, She’s The Ugliest Girl in Town: O welcomed Julia Serano to North- sexologist Ray Blanchard. beginning this fall as Assistant Professor of English accepted for publication in the journal The Velvet Commodified Countercultures and the Industrial at the University of Tennessee. This spring she Light Trap. This spring he presented papers at the Production of a Transgender Subject” at the Society western. Serano is a renowned In her evening lecture, “Transsexual and presented her work on Hendrick Aupaumut’s “A Console-ing Passions conference and at the Society for Cinema and Media Studies conference, a paper transgender activist, in addition to Transfeminine Perspectives on Sexism,” Short Narration of My Last Journey to the Western for Cinema and Media Studies conference. entitled “Is There a Queer Closet?: Quality Sitcom being a biologist, a spoken-word Serano laid out the diverse types of sexism Country” at the Society of Early Americanists annual Straight Men and the Question of Self-identification” performer, and a musician. and examined how each works to oppress meeting and at the Newberry Library Seminar in Angela Maione (Political Science) is currently a at the Console-ing Passions conference, and In her recent book, Whipping and marginalize particular groups. Her Early American History and Culture. Chateaubriand fellow and enrolled in Northwestern’s co-organized the Radio, Television, and Film Depart- Girl: A Transsexual Woman on dual Ph.D. program with Sciences-Po, Paris. ment’s Queer Media Symposium this spring. analysis went beyond the common cri- E. Corzo-Duchardt (Screen Cultures) presented a Sexism and the Scapegoating of Femi- tique of mass media and popular culture, paper entitled “Three Transitions: Race, Gender, and Margo Miller (Radio/Television/Film) has been Maxine Oland (Anthropology) organized a forum for ninity (Seal Press, 2007), Serano critiquing feminist scholarship that dis- Spatial Continuity in A Florida Enchantment” at the awarded the Sarah Pettit Dissertation Fellowship the 73rd annual meeting of the Society for American examines how the sexualization of credits femininity as a passive concession Society for Cinema and Media Studies conference from Yale University’s LGBT Studies Program for Archaeology, entitled “Motherhood, Institutional trans women and a more general to societal pressure as well. At the same in March. 2008-2009. Miller published her article entitled Change, and the Future of Women in Archaeology.” devaluing of femininity intersect in time, however, Serano argued that trans- “The Bob Cummings Show’s ‘Artists at “Work”’: Gen- The forum stimulated a discussion about how moth- Hollis Griffin (Radio/Television/Film) had his article, der Transitive Programming and Counterpublicity” in erhood plays into women’s equity in the archaeologi- the present moment. Her consid- activism needs to be firmly rooted “Your Favorite Stars, Live On Our Screens: Media the journal Spectator. She also presented a paper cal profession. eration of how these attitudes shape in feminism. our conceptions of gender, sexuality, With a full lecture hall of over forty ea- and identity is both keenly intelligent ger listeners, Julia Serano’s visit was a great and accessible to diverse audiences. conclusion to the full program of events During her visit, Serano met that the Gender Studies Undergraduate photo: Kristina Ogilvie with Northwestern students and Board has organized this year. 4 SPRING 2008, v o l u m e 18 Iss u e 2 5

“Narrating Identity”: Gendered Connections Faculty Sabbatical Research Seniors Conduct Honors Thesis A Talk by Michelle Citron continued from page 3 by Sharlyn Grace ’08 Farewell to Maternalism? Research January 28, 2008 “Troubadour Poems from the South of France,” a reading and discus- by Prof. Ann Shola Orloff On February 28, sion with translators William D. Paden and Annually we present abstracts of senior honors theses written by Gender Studies majors. This year Frances Freeman Paden, cosponsored with the Gender Stud- n the United States, as across the rich, other countries—Britain, France, Sweden, Katherine Gorringe received honors in Gender Studies; additionally, Rikki Stern received honors for ies Undergraduate the Writing Program, the Center for Writing developed democracies more generally, the Netherlands, and Italy—to highlight Arts, and the Medieval Colloquium her thesis in Sociology and Science in Human Culture and participated in the Gender Studies thesis Board welcomed I we are in the midst of what might be the “roads not taken” by Americans and to seminar. Thesis writers are assisted by their individual faculty advisors and by thesis-seminar instruc- Professor Michelle February 25, 2008 Jeffrey Q. McCune, Jr., “If called a “farewell to maternalism,” a change deepen our understanding of the prom- tor and Honors Coordinator Amy Partridge. Congratulations to these honors-achieving thesis writers! Citron back to Brokeback was Black,” cosponsored with the in the gendered logic of our system of social ise and problems of the distinctive U.S. Northwestern for a Departments of Performance Studies, African provision from supporting women as full- policy approach. two-part presenta- tion. Prof. Citron American Studies, and Radio/Television/Film time caregivers (in households headed by Where much of my past work document- KATHERINE GORRINGE (Gender Studies RIKKI STERN (Sociology and Science in (see page 5) taught at North- breadwinning men or as single mothers) to ed and explained the gendering of systems of and Music ’08) “WHEN SHE SINGS, I HEAR Human Culture ’08) “SEMENTICS: A COM- western for 28 THE REVOLUTION: RADICAL FEMINIST PARATIVE ANALYSIS OF CREDENTIALED AND February 28, 2008 Michelle Citron, lecture requiring and supporting employment for all. social provision, I am turning in this project years, from 1978 Today, motherhood is no longer a basis to understanding the sources of a moment DEMANDS ON WOMEN IN POPULAR MUSIC, EXPERIENCE-BASED EXPERT CONSTRUC- to 2006. Since and lunch discussion, “Narrating Identity,” Prof. Michelle Citron at organized by the Gender Studies Undergradu- for making entitlement claims in the U.S. in which the possibilities for degendering 1969-1973” TIONS OF MALE-FACTOR INFERTILITY” her departure, lunchtime discussion. (photo: she has served as ate Board (see page 7) Kristina Ogilvie) welfare state, whatever its considerable entitlement are greater than ever before. In the late 1960s, as Drawing on data from the chair of the De- remaining cultural and political-discursive Of course, the potential for re-inscribing April 11-12, 2008 “Race, Sex, Power: New radical feminist activ- blogs of physicians and partment of Interdisci- Directions in Black and Latina/o Sexualities” power. Systems of social provision and regu- gender difference also remains, and gender ists began to organize, infertile men, my research plinary Arts at Columbia College, Chicago. Conference at the University of Illinois at lation are being restructured to encourage inequalities may mix in new ways with racial newly emerging female compares how infertile Chicago, cosponsored with the Performance “activation” and economic self sufficiency, and class inequalities. But I argue that – by During her visit, Citron discussed her work at singer-songwriters men and doctors make a brown-bag lunch and delivered an evening Studies Department and universities through- often with reference to increasing levels of understanding the dangers and opportuni- represented a signifi- sense of male-factor infer- out the Chicago area lecture. At the lunch event, Citron discussed women’s – and ties of both employment- and care-based cant shift in women’s tility and demonstrates the Home Movies and Other Necessary Fictions April 18-20, 2008 Black and mothers’ – em- strategies, as revealed in our policy history cultural production. extent to which medical (University of Minnesota Press, 1998) and her Latino Queer Performance Festival, ployment. Both – feminists and other advocates of social Unlike the previous models, dominant cultural frames, and eco- current project on lesbian identity and commu- cosponsored with the Performance men and women justice can turn away from nostalgic and generation of female musicians—Doris nomic realities shape this mode of knowledge nity in Chicago with about 20 students, faculty, Studies Department are expected to utopian calls to improve on the maternal- and staff. Together, the participants debated Day, Patti Page, Peggy Lee, Judy Collins production about male-factor infertility. I issues of narration, identity formation, truth, be employed, but ist policies of the past and instead work to —women singer-songwriters such as Joan interrogate the functions of this discourse pro- and fiction and their intersection with issues of April 21, 2008 “Actor Slash Model,” with cross-na- expand the opportunities in the shift to film clips, talk, and performance, Baez, Joni Mitchell, Buffy Sainte-Marie, duced by physicians and infertile men and ar- surveillance, ephemerality and mortality. organized by the Gender Studies tionally varying employment. and Carole King wrote and sang their own gue that it reduces infertile men to merely the Undergraduate Board (photo, right) levels of accom- In a political context in which citizen- music. In many ways, we would expect sum of their biological processes and privileges In the evening lecture, Citron talked about her modation for the ship has always been linked to employ- work as a visual artist. She described the inten- feminists of the period to see these women biogenetic connections over other forms of tions that informed and the techniques that she April 25-26, 2008 “Queertopia!: An “difference” of ment, perhaps we will gain from leaving artists—independent women exercising parenting. I then to turn to an examination of used in her latest multimedia pieces, showing Academic Festival and Graduate care. the entanglements of maternalism behind Student Conference,” organized by control over their lives and artistic careers how infertile men attend to repeated medical clips from Jewish Looks (2002), and Mixed the Queer Pride Graduate Student This is an us. For the costs of maternalism were high; —as exemplifying the values of the broader failure in treating their infertility and attempt Greens (2004) to an audience of over 30. This Association (see page 1) epochal shift in the inadequacies of welfare were not only feminist movement. Interestingly, self-iden- resolve their reproductive difficulties through event was co-sponsored by the Departments social policy, pol- its lack of generosity, restricted coverage, or tified radical feminists celebrated female ar- social parenthood. Importantly, my data sug- of Performance Studies; Radio, Television and Film; and Art Theory and Practice. May 8, 2008 John Bracey, lecture itics and gender onerous eligibility requirements, but also tistic expression but did not embrace these gests that infertile men, who are unsuccessful and lunch discussion, “Black Stu- relations. I spent its reinforcing of gender difference and its musicians as representative of movement in their quest to form biogenetic families, tend dent Revolt at Northwestern: Reflec- the 2006-07 restriction of women to a narrow range of tions After 40 Years,” cosponsored goals and aspirations. This dismissal of Baez to inscribe these alternative family forms with with the Departments of African academic year life possibilities. Could freeing women from and other, similar, artists calls into question assumptions about biologically determined American Studies, Art Theory and as a fellow at the policy-mediated link to mothering open radical feminist interpretations of existing gender and racial differences. Practice, and the Peace Project the Russell Sage the range of possibilities for women while musical forms. My thesis begins with the Foundation opening caregiving more fully to men? question of why radical feminists rejected May 15, 2008 Julia Serano, lecture researching my The book will provide answers to three and lunch discussion, “Transsexual these female singer-songwriters in order to and Transfeminine Perspectives on book manu- questions. First, how can we characterize then examine what cultural forms move- Sexism,” organized by the Gender “Actor Slash Model” (April 21) (photo: Kristina Ogilvie) script, “Farewell current policy shifts in the US and other ment participants demanded, why these Studies Undergraduate Board (see to Maternalism,” rich democracies? Are we bidding “farewell forms were privileged over others, and what Alumnae/i Updates page 5) which aims to describe and to explain this to maternalism”? Second, if we are seeing music and musicians ultimately fulfilled shift; to understand its implications for the demise of maternalism – as I contend Sheetal Prajapati (2002) was recently ap- Dana E. Weiner (Graduate Certificate, 2007) May 22, 2008 Anthony Rapp, Rainbow Week these demands. future policy possibilities; and to assess the we are – why have these changes occurred? pointed to the Board of Directors of Dog and has accepted an appointment as Assistant keynote speaker, cosponsored with the Rain- gains and losses for feminism in maternalist Third, what are the political openings for Pony Theatre Company in Chicago, which Professor of History at Wilfrid Laurier Universi- bow Alliance was founded by Northwestern alum Krissy ty in Waterloo, Ontario. She presented a paper policy and in the employment-based policies advocates of women’s emancipation, social Vanderwarker (2001) and her associate Devon at the Newberry Library Seminar in Rural His- June 13-14, 2008 “The Space Between that have replaced it. equality, and racial justice in the turn toward de Mayo. tory entitled “Forged in Conflict: Abolitionists Society: Literature and Culture 1914-1945” The book focuses on the United States, “employment for all”? and Old Northwest Hospitality, 1830-1861.” Conference at Northwestern, organized by but will include the experiences of several Sara Rubin (2006) is living in Las Vegas and Phyllis Lassner teaching first grade as a Teach For America corps member. She will continue to teach at the same school next year and plans to attend a graduate program in educational policy in 6 SPRING 2008, v o l u m e 18 Iss u e 2 the near future. 7

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Gender:dynamic is published twice annually by the Gender Studies Program at Northwestern University. Copies may be obtained at the Program Office, Kresge Hall 2-360; 1880 Campus Drive, Evanston, IL 60208-2211. Gender Studies at Northwestern is an interdisciplinary program, with faculty affiliates drawn from more than twenty-five departments across four of the University’s schools. Phone: 847.491.5871 Email: [email protected] Web: http://www.wcas.northwestern.edu/genderstudies/ Program Director & Director of Graduate Studies: Jeffrey Masten Associate Director & Director of Undergraduate Studies: Amy Partridge Program Assistant: Katy Weseman Newsletter design: Robert Grillo Creative

The Gender Studies Advisory Committee Nicola Beisel (Gender Studies & Sociology) Nicholas Davis (Gender Studies & English) Mary G. Dietz (Gender Studies & Political Science) Jillana Enteen (Gender Studies) Lane Fenrich (History) E. Patrick Johnson (Performance Studies) Tessie Liu (Gender Studies & History) Jeffrey Masten (Gender Studies & English) Ann Orloff (Gender Studies & Sociology) Alexandra Owen (Gender Studies & History) Clockwise from upper left: Queertopia! organizers Theo Greene (left) and Kelby Harrison (right) with Frances Freeman Paden (Gender Studies & Writing Program) sermon-competition winner Shannon T.L. Furness Kearns; Gender Studies seniors Cora Leech, Mindy Amy Partridge (Gender Studies) Yahr, and Sharlyn Grace at spring awards banquet; Gender Studies majors Marissa Faustini and C. Nern Helen Thompson (English) Ostendorf; senior Katherine Gorringe and thesis advisor Prof. Tessie Liu. (photos: Kathleen Fitzgerald and Jane Winston (Gender Studies & French) Kristina Ogilvie) Linda Zerilli (Gender Studies & Political Science)

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