#FemRhet2017 Recap: Day 4

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Last Day of FemRhet 2017!

By Karrieann Soto Vega and Patricia Fancher

The close knit community that the Coalition of Feminist Scholars in the History of Rhetoric and Writing is stronger than ever. Throughout the day you could see people collaborating in dynamic and interactive panels, which contributed to building new relationships and strengthening old ones. Conference goers were able to learn about Publishing an Edited Collection as a Process Approach, and Approaches to Feminist Research in Technical Communication, for example. They also had opportunities to work through the complexity of asking for a Consent to Discomfort, and engage in critical conversations about asking students to acknowledge and question their own privilege. This last day, most folks seemed to be full of appreciation for a job well-done by the organizers and staff at the University of Dayton.

 

Kathleen Livingston, Tania de Sostoa-McCue, Analisa Skeen, Everardo Cuevas, all from Michigan State University leading N.14: Consent to Discomfort: A Workshop on Bodies and Desires

Karrieann Soto Vega was also highly appreciative of the generosity of the FemRhet community in helping Puerto Rico rebuild itself. As proponents of feminist praxis, conference goers practiced the feminist ideal of taking action in social justice efforts.

The raffle after lunch made many folks happy about winning books and t-shirts that promote the values of the Coalition. The delighted faces of established scholars like Nan Johnson, Junior scholars like Kate Navickas and graduate students like Hillary Coenen demonstrates how we are all happy to be part of this community and appreciate the treats the organizing team put together.

The final panels of a conference are often sparsely attended. But not at FemRhet. These sessions were energetic and intellectually stimulating. In particular, the panel “Body Talk: Intersectional Feminist Advocacy” featuring  Kelly Whitney, Tori Peters, Molly E. Daniel addresses the racial and gendered politics of science and media.

Then we hugged, traded business cards, lingered a while, and returned home sleepy yet empowered.