Cfp: "Disorderly Conduct," Interdisciplinary Conference, Wilfrid Laurier University and University of Waterloo, July 24-26, 2009.

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Steven Angelides, Department of Women’s Studies, Monash University The conference, "Disorderly Conduct" will bring together scholars from around the world and from such disciplines as sociology, philosophy, health studies, history, women's studies, and medicine to explore and problematize the notion of a "disorder". The conference seeks to bring front-line medical and mental health personnel who treat various "disorders" together with humanities, social science and health and disability studies scholars who work (in one way or another) on theoretical questions related both to specific "disorders" and to the notion of a disorder simpliciter. In workshops and symposia, conference participants will engage questions like the following: What, if any, are the downsides of being diagnosed with a disorder? Does the concept of a disorder provide treatment advantages or disadvantages? Are there other advantanges or disadvantages that it incurs – besides those related to the treatment itself – for those diagnosed with a disorder? Can we reasonably expect to avoid problems of stigmatization and marginalization by turning to a medicalized language of disorder to apprehend and explain embodied difference? Conference organizers kindly invite submissions from scholars and health (physical and mental) professionals in all disciplines. Submissions from all scholarly traditions and from all theoretical/methodological approaches are welcome. Abstracts (500 words), papers (2500 words, 20 minute papers for delivery in 30 minute time slots), symposium proposals, workshop proposals, and roundtable discussion proposals will be considered. Proposals for symposia should include the names and affiliations of all participants and their papers or abstracts. Authors submitting abstracts should be prepared to submit final versions of their papers to the conference organizers by June 30. All submissions will be anonymously reviewed; names should appear only on a cover page, and cover pages should be attached in a separate file. Authors’ names or other identifying information should be removed from the properties of files before submission. Authors should indicate on their title pages if they wish to have their submissions considered for inclusion in the published proceedings of the conference. All submissions should be emailed to both Morgan Holmes at mholmes at wlu dot ca and at Shannon Dea at sjdea at uwaterloo dot ca by midnight February 27, 2009. Authors should expect to know the decision of the program committee by around March 1, 2009. Authors might consider submitting a proposal concerning one of the following (but should not feel confined by what is merely intended as a suggestive list):

• What relationship (if any) holds between the concepts, diagnosis and treatment of gender identity disorder and disorders of sexual development?
• What lessons should the editors of the inchoate DSM V take from the DSM IV?
• Is old age treated as a disorder? Should it be?
• What role does "big pharma" play in the identification of various disorders?
• Does our current notion of a disorder adequately reflect our understanding of the social determinants of health?
• In what ways is the language of 'disorder' open to deployment and/or interrogation by post-structuralist or analytic ethicists?

Conference organizers are currently seeking federal funding to support this conference. Contingent upon their success, they may be able to financially assist speakers with their travel and accommodations costs.

Submissions Deadline: February 27, 2009 For more information on "Disorderly Conduct," see the conference website at http://arts.uwaterloo.ca/~sjdea/.