Qu(e)erying Research on the agenda

Qu(e)erying Research on the agenda

A conference looking at research into Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) issues will be held at AUT University next week.

"Researching Queers and Qu(e)erying Research" is the theme for the third annual Queers in Tertiary Education and Research (QuTER) conference.

Conference organisers say one of the QuTER network's primary aims is to support rigorously designed queer research and to act as a vehicle to promote reliable queer research to the general population.

AUT Professor of Organisation Studies Judith Pringle will discuss
"Revealing heterosexuality in gender" in her keynote address.

Although there is an enormous amount of 'glass ceiling' research on the experiences of women managers and professionals, Professor Pringle says the assumption usually made is that they are heterosexual.

In her address Professor Pringle will draw on a small local study of 'out' lesbian managers to argue that their lack of response to questions about gender issues in the workplace is because gender is actually heterogender - rooted in a dichotomous masculine and feminine relationship.

Identity issues for the women in this local study centred around the multi-layered process of coming out, making their sexual orientation visible within their managerial position. To some extent these lesbians were freed from gender issues, because managing gender is managing heterosexuality.

Other key speakers for the event include MP Maryan Street and Brian Paltridge, Associate Professor of TESOL, University of Sydney who will discuss "Researching language and identity".

MP Chris Carter will be opening the conference.

ENDS

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