Lecture in Lesbian Studies addresses the decline in lesbian communities
The free lecture, "The Incredibly Shrinking Lesbian World and Other Queer Conundra," will feature prominent scholar and author, Arlene Stein, who teaches courses on the sociology of gender, sexuality, culture, religion and identities at Rutgers University. Stein is the author of three books and the editor of two collections of essays including "Sex and Sensibility: Stories of a Lesbian Generation." She was formerly an associate professor of sociology at the UO.
Stein's lecture aims to address the issue of a decline in lesbian communities, as articulated by a number of observers who have warned of the "emptying out" of the lesbian category. Some blame this presumed decline on the rise of transgender and queer activism and the emergence of a "post-feminist" generation. Stein's talk will evaluate these claims and discuss the legacy of identity politics today.
The lecture is made possible by the Sally Miller Gearhart Fund, which was established to contribute to the production of historical and contemporary research in lesbian studies in the humanities and social sciences. Gearhart is an author and has been a tireless activist for equal rights and social justice for more than 40 years, both within academia and in the public arena.
Carla Blumberg, a friend of several WGS faculty members and a long-time friend of Gearhart's, established the fund in 2008, agreeing to match all contributions up to a total of $25,000. Fundraising efforts have not yet reached the full match goal. The department is working to build the endowment to $50,000 to provide continued support to the lecture and other activities.
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