Scope and Objectives

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The 12th European Feminist Research Conference (EFRC), organised in collaboration between The European Association for Gender Research, Education and Documentation (ATGENDER), the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) and the Intra-Universities Institute of Women and Gender Studies (Institut Interuniversitari de Estudis de Dones i Géner (iiEDG), seeks to foster an inclusive and accessible setting that centers and supports trans*, feminist, queer, anti-racist and anti-colonial scholarship and struggles through mindful exchange and accountability. To this end, the following participation guidelines offer a framework to build together a community responsibly and respectfully. This includes practical information as to how, as a conference participant, you can help ensure the conference is an inclusive and accessible setting for all.

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The EFRC conference team is committed to ensuring meaningful engagement throughout conference activities. The EFRC is composed of researchers, activists, early career scholars and students from different backgrounds and contexts. The diversity of participants offers a valuable opportunity to engage with a wide variety of perspectives, approaches and experiences, which undoubtedly enriches the community building objectives of EFRC. Accordingly, these Participation Guidelines serve as a collective agreement that aims to ensure that the dynamics between participants cultivate a welcoming, inclusive and constructive environment. 

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Participants are asked to: 

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1. Provide constructive questions, comments, and clarifications. Participants may be asked to rephrase when necessary; 

2. Be aware that while the main language of the conference is English, participants are from a diverse array of countries and have different levels of confidence and familiarity with English, particularly academic English. Participants should exercise cooperation and encouragement when language challenges arise; 

3. Be mindful of other participants and speakers when asking questions to enable multiple audience participants to speak, and for all speakers to receive questions;

4. Respect time constraints outlined in the programme and communicated throughout the conference, including designated presentation and Q&A times, as well as coffee breaks; 

5. Be respectful of participants’ positions and interventions; we encourage the critique of ideas, not of individuals. 

6. Participants come from all walks of life. Do not assume individuals’ identities, gender and pronouns, socio-academic backgrounds, and epistemic or political positions; 

7. Whenever in doubt about preferred pronouns, ask the person what their preferred pronouns are, or use neutral pronouns (‘they/them’) when referring to or talking about a person. Please note, name tags will include preferred pronouns; 

8. When referring to persons with disabilities, avoid phrases like ‘suffers from’ or words like ‘victim’, as well as terms that define disabilities as a limitation. Similarly, avoid using collective nouns (e.g. the deaf) and remember to use person-first language (e.g. a person with a disability); 

9. Request explicit consent to share the work, presentation or personal information of participants (this includes any video recording or photography throughout the conference);

10. Exercise a collaborative approach to any challenges that may arise. Despite the thorough organization of the conference and related social activities, challenges may arise. A collaborative approach to problem solving is much appreciated and will allow the organising team and the host institution to arrive at solutions quicker;

11. Flag particularly graphic content or potentially distressing content ahead of their presentations with the use of trigger warnings for instance; 

12. Avoid using images that might perpetuate the dehumanization of differently oppressed subjects or turn the suffering caused by various regimes of oppression into a spectacle; 

13. Always name the source of your knowledge (academic or non-academic), as well as provide adequate information about the socio-political contexts the ideas you use come from (see AtGender´s Code of Ethics, Section 3.2 ); 

14. Be considerate of accessibility when presenting. To facilitate the active participation of all attendees and create an inclusive space, we encourage invited speakers and participants to adhere to the following guidelines:

a. When answering a question, begin by rephrasing it. This ensures that the question was correctly understood and allows for answers to be clear and exhaustive; 

b. If you decide to use metaphors, please make sure to explain them, as they might be unclear or interpreted literally;

c. Describe pertinent visual information contained in your presentation;

d. Before moving on to a new slide or a new topic, pause for a few seconds; 

e. In presentations, use large (at least 20 point), simple, sans serif fonts (e.g., Arial, Verdana, Helvetica), and preferably a simple white background; 

f. Minimize the amount of text on slides and avoid using text or images flying in from the side. Avoid blinking or flashing animations and/ or transitions; 

g. Avoid loud noises, especially loud clapping and shouting;

h. Avoid wearing or using scented or perfumed products during the conference;

i. Turn overhead projectors off if you are not using them. This reduces background noise and helps focus attention on the speaker.

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In any event, feel free to ask for or negotiate supplementary guidelines in line with any specific requirements, needs, or preferences from other participants/the audience. For instance, before each session begins, organisers and participants are invited to discuss whether waving at end of a session is preferable to clapping or if describing visual pertinent content is redundant. This is to ensure that everyone’s needs are considered and accommodations can be explored.

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Besides respecting these guidelines the best they can, invited speakers and participants are required to carefully read through both the Code of Ethics of AtGender and Code of Ethics of the Autonomous University of Barcelona ahead of the conference.

 

Anti-Harassment Policy 

 

We refer to the institutional policies and bodies of the Autonomous University of Barcelona, including its Code of Ethics  and the Code of Good Practice, throughout the Conference. If during the conference conflicts emerge, we do recommend that, whenever possible and appropriate, participants speak to each other directly. In case this is not possible, please reach out to the conference´s organisers immediately to ensure conflicts may be addressed in a timely and just manner. The conference’s organisers will, when appropriate, refer specific issues to either the UAB Equality Observatory or the UAB Prevention and Assistance Area. 

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Importantly, the Conference underlines its commitment to providing a space free from harassment in line with the Anti-harassment Policy of the Autonomous University of Barcelona. This policy applies to all programmed events and social gatherings. Some programme events may include additional guidelines, which will be communicated to participants accordingly. 

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A non-exhaustive list of harassment follows: 

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1. Derogatory or aggressive comments regarding an individual’s identity (including deliberate misgendering); 

2. Derogatory or aggressive comments regarding an individual’s lifestyle practices (including those related to substance use, employment, religion or otherwise);

3. Personal contact (physical and non-physical) without consent and/or after a request to stop;

4. Threats, intimidation or incitement of violence towards any individual;

5. Sustained disruption of discussions or events consisting of non-constructive and abusive criticism towards any individual. 

6. Racist, sexist, ableist, ageist, classist, Islamophobic or otherwise oppressive, intentional or not, behavior in any form. 

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* This list extends to both physical and non-physical (digital) spaces to ensure comprehensive protection and respect for all individuals.

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Prior to, during, and after the conference, the names and contact details of organisers and participants will be publicly available. Participants are encouraged to be mindful and responsible in how they use and share this information. Please use the dedicated communication channels provided to reach out to the organisers, and avoid using personal email addresses.

 

Trigger and Content Warning

 

The conference program, its contents and discussions necessarily engage with critiques of  trans* misogyny, sexism, ableism, racism and associated forms of everyday violence and oppression. Participants may find such content challenging to engage with. Ahead of each presentation, invited speakers and participants should flag especially graphic content that discusses or represents any of the above listed forms of violence and oppression. Collectively, participants shall strive to make the conference a space where we can engage empathetically and thoughtfully with difficult content. However, if you ever feel the need to step outside, either for a short time or for the rest of any session, feel free to do so at any time. If you ever wish to share your thoughts or feelings regarding particular content, either with fellow participants or with the organizers afterwards, please be assured that such conversations are always welcome and encouraged. Lastly, a quiet room will be made available to participants who may require breaks to decompress from cognitive, emotional and/or sensory overstimulation.
 

Acknowledgments

 

We would like to acknowledge that these Participation Guidelines constitute an adaptation of those implemented during the second edition of the Summer School ‘Endangered Theories: Standing by Critical Race Theory in the Age of Ultra Violence´. Accordingly, we would like to thank again the colleagues who kindly accepted to comment upon previous drafts: Carmen Ferrara, Associate researcher at GenPol - Gender and Policy Insights and an activist from Antinoo - Arcigay Naples; Barbara Centrone from the University of Roma Tre; and Silvia Rodríguez Maeso from the Center of Social Studies - University of Coimbra.