The 9th Annual MAP–Penn Conference brings together students and scholars committed to exploring gender and sexuality as scholarly fields and lived experiences. Founded by graduate students in Philosophy, MAP–Penn has become a valued interdisciplinary space for feminist, queer, and anti-oppressive inquiry. The 2026 conference will feature Robin Dembroff (Yale University) and Ding (Barnard College) as keynotes. Each presentation will include faculty commentary and open discussion. Interactive “Dialogues in Troubled Times” sessions will invite participants to reflect collectively on the challenges and possibilities of feminist and queer life today.
PROGRAM
Friday, April 3
12:15–12:45pm
Check-in & Coffee
12:45–1:00pm
Welcome & Opening Remarks
1:00–1:50pm
"Against the Egg Prime Directive," Jasper Heaton (University of British Columbia)
2:00–2:50pm
"Ameliorating Semantics: Gender Terms and Direct Reference," Josey Aron (University of Alabama)
3:00–3:50pm
"Rethinking the Sex/Gender Distinction," Lava Schadde (CUNY Graduate Center)
4:00–5:00pm
Dialogues in Troubled Times I
5:15–6:45pm
Keynote Address: "Justice, Misgendered: Constructing Gender/Equality in American Law," Ding (Barnard College–Columbia University)
6:45–7:30pm
Reception
Saturday, April 4
9:30–10:00am
Coffee
10:00–10:50am
"Privacy and the Middle-Equality Trap—A Thomsonian Defence of Outing," Miloš Kovačević (University of Belgrade)
11:00–11:50am
"Leaving the Closet Door Ajar," Phoebe Mak Rui Teng (University of New Mexico)
12:00–12:50pm
Dialogues in Troubled Times II
2:00–2:50pm
"On the Down Low," Jacob Gelman (Brandeis University)
3:00–4:30pm
Keynote Address: "The Macho State," Robin Dembroff (Yale University)
4:30–4:45pm
Closing Remarks
MAP (Minorities and Philosophy) is a collection of graduate students in philosophy departments that aims to address issues of minority participation in academic philosophy. MAP focuses on (a) minority issues in the profession, (b) theoretical issues regarding philosophy of gender, race, sexual orientation, class, disability, native language, etc. and (c) philosophy done from minority perspectives.
MAP-Penn has contributed to these aims by organizing conferences where philosophers who are leaders in these subfields come together to share their expertise and teach us to incorporate their knowledge in our own work. In addition to conferences, MAP-Penn has organized reading groups, undergraduate information sessions, and other events to help members of Penn's philosophy department connect with others as professionals and community members.
