(Coordinated by Altha Cravey, UNC-CH Department of Geography, email cravey@unc.edu; Diane Nelson, Duke Department of Cultural Anthropology, email dmnelson@duke.edu; Katharine French-Fuller, Duke Department of History, email kef12@duke.edu; Holly Worthen, UNC-CH Department of Geography, email wholly@email.unc.edu)

This new working group will examine aspects of gender and sexuality in key areas of social, political, cultural, and economic contestations throughout Latin America . The group is interested in examining the historical as well as contemporary trajectories of gender dynamics, and how readings of both form each other. They will focus on key themes through which gender and sexuality come to the forefront in Latin America, including religion, development, nation-state formation, migration, and social movements. During the first semester the group will mostly engage in readings and discussion in preparation for a workshop scheduled around an invited speaker early in the second semester.