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The Ideal Woman’: Interrogating Femininity across Disciplines and Time

A Conference to Celebrate International Women’s Day

Queen’s University Belfast
Friday 11 - Saturday 12 March 2011

Download Conference Poster [word doc]
Download Programme [word doc]

Historically, there have been various constructions of what is to be an “ideal woman”.  Across disciplines, cultures, spheres and societies the “ideal woman” has become associated with modes of femininity and ‘proper’ behaviour. Political theories, ideologies, legal institutions and religious faiths have defined rights and duties; virtues and vices and condemned those who do not conform. World literature presents a full array of models and characters which personify both the ‘ideal’ woman and those women who subvert the archetype. Contemporary popular culture still disseminates ideas and presents women of different nationalities and age with models of ‘proper’ sexuality, behaviour, style, and appearance. This interdisciplinary postgraduate conference seeks to interrogate constructions of ideal femininity and how such models have been reiterated, reinvented, manipulated, and challenged. 20 minute papers included themes such as:

•    Marriage and the domestic sphere including issues surrounding childbirth, childcare, and household management
•    Women in public roles – local/transnational
•    Constructions of femininity within religious, ethnic and national discourses
•    The female voice reimagining/challenging/reiterating dominant modes
•    Women and popular culture – contributions and representations
•    Travel, international encounters, missionary work
•    Female madness, melancholy and hysteria
•    Heterosexuality and Queer theory



The organisers of 'The Ideal Woman' conference: Laura Gallagher, Maria Deiana and Rachel Wilson at the Institute of Irish Studies, QUB

Post Conference Report

'"The Ideal Woman": Interrogating Femininity across Disciplines and Time' conference took place at Queen's University Belfast on 11th and 12th March 2011 to mark the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day. 

The interdisciplinary conference, organised by postgraduate students Maria Deiana (School of Politics, International Studies and Philosophy), Laura Gallagher (School of English) and Rachel Wilson (School of History and Anthropology), attracted delegates and speakers from all over the world.  It was sponsored by First Mondays International Research Forum on Women, the Student-led Initiative at Queen's University Belfast, and the Centre for the Advancement of Women in Politics, QUB. 

The keynote address was delivered by Professor Jennifer Scanlon, Bowdoin University, Maine,  and was entitled: 'The "Uncanny Stranger on Display": Women, Language, and Ideal Femininities'.

'The Ideal Woman' conference delegates
'The Ideal Woman' conference delegates
Professor Jennifer Scanlon delivering the keynote address in the Canada Room, Queen's University Belfast
Professor Jennifer Scanlon with the conference organisers