The Center for Interdisciplinary Studies of Writing at the University of Minnesota is pleased to announce that the Second Biennial International Feminism(s) and Rhetoric(s) Conference "Challenging Rhetorics: Cross-Disciplinary Sites of Feminist Discourse" will be held October 7-9, 1999 on the Minneapolis campus of the University of Minnesota. This conference will give feminist scholars, students, and community leaders the opportunity to share theories about and examples of new discourse practices that are emerging as a result of feminist scholarship. The conference will emphasize the cross-disciplinarity of feminist rhetorics and will attract international scholars, artists, activists, and leaders in fields such as feminist theory, literacy theory, rhetorical theory, speech communication, creative writing, literary theory, women's studies, education, composition, linguistics, history, and postcolonial theory. Featured speakers include: Judith Butler, Deborah Cameron, Evelyn Fox Keller, Janice Gould, Suzette Haden-Elgin, Florence Howe, Robin Lakoff, Julia Penelope, Dale Spender, Lorraine Code, Lisa Ede, Janet Emig, Janet Eldred, Elizabeth Flynn, Jane Gallop, Cheryl Glenn, Judith Halberstam, Susan Jarratt, Nan Johnson, Gesa Kirsch, Andrea Lunsford, Arabella Lyon, Joyce Irene Middleton, Susan Miller, Peter Mortensen, Louise Wetherbee Phelps, Krista Ratcliffe, Joy Ritchie, Kate Ronald, Jacqueline Jones Royster, C. Jan Swearingen, Barbara Warnick, Kathleen Welch, Lynn Worsham, and many others.

We invite proposals on the rhetorical intersections of gender with race, class, age, sexuality, and ability; interpreting the academy, disciplinarity, and professional identities from a feminist perspective; reclaiming lost or marginalized voices of women (e.g. rhetors, writers, teachers, artists, workers); analyzing the rhetoric of historical depictions of women; the rhetoric of the feminist movement and feminist backlash; males and men's studies scholarship in relation to feminism; analyzing the rhetoric of historical depictions of women; revising canonical theories of rhetoric, literature, and the arts from a feminist perspective; revising linguistic theories from a feminist perspective; extrapolating theory from the everyday (e.g. etiquette manuals, cookbooks, diaries); the rhetoric of feminist public policy; the rhetoric of women's spirituality; the rhetoric of women's aging and developmental stages; the rhetoric of feminist research methodologies; the rhetoric of gender in schooling; theories of feminist fiction writers; the rhetoric of gender in science; gendered readings of technology; the rhetoric of feminist performance; and the rhetoric of the body and reproduction.

Though we accept traditional presentation formats, we also encourage participants to create alternative formats that go beyond the genre of delivering a read-aloud academic paper. Interactive sessions that promote lively exchanges among presenters or between presenters and audiences such as discussions, dialogues, and performances are especially welcome. Only one proposal per applicant may be submitted. Time allocations for formats include: workshops and roundtables (1 1/2 hours); 3-4 member panels (1 1/2 hours); individual presentations (20 minutes); with any creative formats you might imagine fitting into these time frames.

For individual presentations:

Submit three copies of a 250-word description of the presentation and title. In a concluding paragraph in your description, please indicate the format of your presentation. Will it resemble a traditional scholarly paper, a performance, an audience discussion, or other alternative form? On a separate cover page, provide the title of your proposal and a brief (25 word) description or abstract. Also list your name, address, phone, fax, e-mail, and institutional affiliation.

For group presentations:

Please submit three copies of a 250 - 750-word description of the presentation and title, indicating the role(s) of each participant. In a concluding paragraph in your description, please indicate the format of your presentation. What sort of traditional or alternative format will it resemble? On a separate cover page, provide the title of your proposal and a brief (50 word) description or abstract. Also list the names, addresses, phones, faxes, e-mails, and institutional affiliations of all participants. Be sure to specify one member to serve as a contact.

In order to encourage diversity, we invite graduate students who are presenting for the first time and who are from historically underrepresented groups (African Americans, Asian Americans, Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans and other Latino and Latina Americans, and American Indians) to apply to the conference for special funds. To be considered, include a nominating letter from your advisor along with your proposal.