Dear colleagues and friends,
The Feminist Studies Division and the Activism, Communication and Social Justice Division are pleased to invite you to the 2026 ICA Pre-Conference on Intersectional Political Economy: New Directions for Research and Teaching. The event will be held on Thursday, June 4, 2026 | 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM (Half-Day), on-Site, at the Conference Hotel in Cape Town, South Africa (Room TBD).
This pre-conference celebrates the 40th anniversary of the Feminist Scholarship Division and the 1st anniversary of the Activism, Communication, and Social Justice Division in 2026 by focusing on new directions for researching and teaching the contexts of inequalities in media through political economy scholarship. This half-day hands-on event will convene participants to explore ways of researching and teaching about structural inequalities in media policies, ownership, management, and financing through the lenses of gender, race, class, and nationality. Traditional political economy scholars have been slow to recognize the varied ways that gender, race, nationality and other aspects of intersectionality are imbricated in this approach to media inquiry, particularly in a variety of global contexts.
Confirmed panelists and panel chairs include both established and emerging political economy scholars from the Global South, Europe, and the Unites States. No paper submission required.
Fee: $40 (to be paid via ICA registration website).
Tentative Schedule and Speakers
Welcoming remarks
Stine Eckert, Wayne State U, Detroit, USA
Research-in-dialogue keynote.
"Tracking inclusivity in political economy of media studies"
Moderator: Leslie Steeves, Oregon U, USA
Speakers:
- Janet Wasko, U of Oregon, USA
- Carolyn Byerly, Howard U, USA
Research Panel - (with Q&A)
How can feminist and intersectional political economy research be conducted? Which different ways exist to approach this particular kind of research is approached using feminist or intersectional political economy
Chair: Stine Eckert, Wayne State U, USA
Coffee Break - 15 min.
Teaching Panel (with Q&A)
In which ways can feminist and intersectional political economy be taught? Which formats have been useful to include such approaches to political economy into curricula, syllabi, and courses?
Chair: Elisabetta Ferrari (ACSJ Vice Chair), Aarhus U, Denmark
Open Exchange Blue Sky 30 min.
How to tackle challenges for intersectional and feminist political economy research?
Chair: Hanan Badr (immediate former ACSJ Chair), U of Salzburg, Austria
We hope that you can plan to attend this important discussion and debate on the production, distribution and consumption of media products at at time of increased focus on digital technologies and AI. This pre-conference couldn't have come at a better time - as scholars, we need to point out the power relations behind the expansion of these technologies, the ensuing inequalities and the potential for pushback through critical research and teaching.
For any questions please contact:
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Irene Awino
Assistant Professor
Communication Studies Department - University of Wisconsin La Crosse
La Crosse WI
United States
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