Upcoming CIGS events
We are excited to announce our programme of events for this term. All events will be online and all are welcome to join. Further details will be circulated by email and on the CIGS website . You can also follow us on Twitter @CIGSLeeds for regular updates. We're looking forward to seeing you.
Wednesday 13th October (1-2.15pm)
School of Sociology and Social Policy Research Seminar, hosted by CIGS
Eva Haifa Giraud (University of Sheffield)
From Purity Politics to Plant-Based Capitalism
Veganism has undergone dramatic changes in cultural imaginaries over the past decade. From an ethical practice that was framed as marginal or radical, veganism’s upsurge in popularity has seen it become a marketing niche: as illustrated by the array of vegan products in fast food outlets ranging from McDonald’s to Subway. Against the backdrop of veganism’s transformation, this talk traces two narratives about vegan practice that have circulated in academia and popular culture, respectively. Firstly, I reflect on veganism’s framing as ‘purity politics’ in academic contexts and suggest that revisiting vegan activism offers a productive means of complicating this framing. I then offer further complications, by examining how vegan activism has itself had to confront tensions arising from veganism’s popularization. Although vegan consumerism has important democratizing potentials, the rise of ‘plant-based capitalism’ has troubled some of the core ethical aspirations associated with veganism, particularly in relation to its intersection with other social justice issues. I close the paper by fleshing out some of the key attributes of plant-based capitalism, to reflect on the provocations they pose for veganism – and food justice more broadly – moving forward.
The event will be held on Zoom, access the meeting via the link and joining details below:
https://universityofleeds.zoom.us/j/86463927991?pwd=NkViSjFoT1F3QWhlcUhUTDA2MlczUT09
Meeting ID: 864 6392 7991
Passcode: M1T*2c
No booking required.
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Tuesday 19th October (1.45-4pm)
Writing Together Tuesday
This online writing group is an opportunity to get some writing done in a supportive and social atmosphere. If you are not already on the WTT mailing list, please contact Karen Throsby (k.throsby@leeds.ac.uk) in order to join. All welcome.
You can learn more about WTT and how the sessions are run in this post from last year (please note the time change). We are hoping to add in more sessions during the term.
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Wednesday 27th October (4-5.30pm)
CIGS reading group
For this reading group, we will be discussing Sophie Lewis’ Full Surrogacy Now: Feminism Against Family (2019, Verso Books). All are welcome and there is no need to book.
You can join the meeting via the Zoom link below:
Topic: CIGS Reading Group: Full Surrogacy Now
Time: Oct 27, 2021 04:00 PM London
Join Zoom Meeting
https://universityofleeds.zoom.us/j/84793169316?pwd=Z3pnODgzTW5hS0hpMXRNZ2lUV3lZUT09
Meeting ID: 847 9316 9316
Passcode: g%!u7T
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Wednesday 3rd November (4-5.30pm)
Work-in-Progress seminar
Greg Hollin (University of Leeds) and Ros Williams (University of Sheffield) will present some of their ongoing work on ‘complicity’ for discussion.
Please use the Zoom link below to join this event. All welcome.
Topic: CIGS Work-In-Progress seminar: Greg Hollin and Ros Williams
Time: Nov 3, 2021 04:00 PM London
Join Zoom Meeting
https://universityofleeds.zoom.us/j/81938838196?pwd=UjJpa0FPQUFTdWxNWmQzQ1owb3FBQT09
Meeting ID: 819 3883 8196
Passcode: jE.5YT
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Tuesday 16th November (1.45-4pm)
Writing Together Tuesday
Our second writing afternoon for the term – all welcome. The Zoom link will be circulated via the mailing list - please contact Karen Throsby (k.throsby@leeds.ac.uk) if you would like to be added to the list.
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Wednesday 1st December
CIGS reading group
**CANCELLED - we will add this book to next semester's reading group activities**
For this reading group, we will be discussing Alison Kafer’s Feminist Queer Crip (2013, Indiana University Press).
Please find below the Zoom invite to join the reading group.
Topic: CIGS reading group: Feminist Queer Crip
Time: Dec 1, 2021 04:00 PM London
Join Zoom Meeting
https://universityofleeds.zoom.us/j/87620968165?pwd=bWI4STllOGJHcytRNEh6Q1dnc1pKZz09
Meeting ID: 876 2096 8165
Passcode: zh*Z7H