*CFP* "GENDERED VIOLENCE AT INTERNATIONAL FESTIVALS: AN INTERDISCIPLINARY PERSPECTIVE", CHAPTER BOOK

We invite researchers to submit chapter abstracts for a proposed book to Routledge entitled, Gendered Violence at International Festivals: An Interdisciplinary Perspective, edited by Dr Louise Platt (Manchester Metropolitan University) and Dr Rebecca Finkel (Queen Margaret University). The vision for this book is to feature contributions from critical events and interdisciplinary scholars specifically focused on gendered violence (symbolic/physical) at international festivals. It is expected that chapters will provide robust theoretical frameworks and will interweave theory, policy and/or practice. Empirical work which features creative research methods is especially welcome.

The underlying motivation for this volume is to contest the widely-held notion that festivals are temporal spaces free from structural sexism, inequalities, or gender power dynamics; rather, we argue that they are spaces where these are enhanced and enacted more freely, using the experiential environment as an excuse or as an opportunity to victim-blame and shame. Whilst it has been argued that the liminal/liminoid space, due to the so-argued temporary suspension of societal norms, allows women’s bodies and voices to be asserted in a way that is not usually deemed acceptable in everyday public spaces, there is often a neglect to understand how hegemonic social and cultural structures and controls still govern these spaces. We argue that a persistence to characterise festivals spaces as uncomplicated, value-free, and utopic is highly problematic.

Possible chapter topics can be drawn from cross-disciplinary literatures and methodologies and may be from a range of social science subjects, such as critical event, tourism, and leisure studies; gender and sexualities studies; critical race theories; urban and cultural geography; sociology; criminology; and so forth. It is expected that gender and violence issues will be explored within the framework of one or more festivals, whereby the festival illustrates broader social structures and confirms/disrupts established discourses involving patriarchy, performativity, power, praxis, and perceptions of safety. 

Intersectional and feminist approaches are considered a priority. Recently, there have been more and more media reports surrounding increased sexual assaults at festivals, especially greenfield music festivals. However, there has been a paucity of sustained scholarly work in this area. This collection attempts to highlight international research in an effort to further thinking about gendered festival experiences and emphasise the symbolic and physical violence often associated with them.

Please submit abstracts (100-200 words max.) for your proposed chapter by Monday, 7 January, 2019.

We look forward to hearing about your work and possibly having you contribute to this exciting, emerging area! Please email abstracts to Drs Louise Platt l.platt@mmu.ac.uk and  Rebecca Finkel rfinkel@qmu.ac.uk