‘Doing gender’ in Critical Event Studies: A dual agenda for research
Citation
Dashper, K. & Finkel, R. (2020) ‘Doing gender’ in Critical Event Studies: A dual agenda for research. International Journal of Event and Festival Management, 12(1), pp. 70-84.
Abstract
Purpose: To introduce critical gender theory to events studies and set an agenda for research
in this area. This paper focuses on various contexts, approaches, and applications for 'doing
gender' in critical event studies. It draws upon interdisciplinary frameworks to develop robust
theoretical ways of interrogating issues related to power and structural inequalities in events
contexts Design/methodology/approach: A conceptual discussion of ‘doing gender’ and critical
gender theory and review of relevant research in this area within event studies. Adopting
feminist and intersectional perspectives and applying them to events environments has
potential to inform current theoretical developments and wider sector practices, and,
ultimately, change the dominant heteronormative patriarchal paradigm of the experiential
landscape. Findings: Event studies has been slow to engage with gender theory and gender-aware
research, to the detriment of theoretical and practical development within the field. Research implications: A call for more gender-aware research within event studies. The goal
of this paper is to galvanise gender-aware events research to centralise the marginalised and
amplify feminist voices in critical event studies. Feminist and gender-aware frameworks
encourage researchers to be critical and to question the underlying power structures and
discourses that shape practices, behaviours, and interactions. This creates new pathways to
find ways to overcome inequalities, which can improve overall events praxis. Originality/value: The paper introduces critical gender theory as a fruitful framework for future
events research. It is an under-researched area of study, representing a significant gap in
ways of theorising and representing different aspects of events. We argue it is imperative that
researchers take up the challenge of incorporating feminist and/or gender-aware frameworks
within their research as a matter of routine.