12-13 November| ACEPS| Gender, Sexuality, and Power in the Age of AI Conference

[Paige Benton]

The African Institute for Epistemology of Philosophy of Science (ACEPS) at the University of Johannesburg invites abstract submissions for the conference:

                                    Gender, Sexuality, and Power in the Age of AI

University of Johannesburg (UJ on Empire)

12-13 November 2026 

This is a two-day, interdisciplinary conference that investigates how digital technologies shape and push heteronormative narratives and traditional moral values. One of the aims is to explore methods for resistance to these harms. The hybrid conference will be held online and in person at ACEPS in November 2026.

The keynote will be given by Professor Adrienne Massanari

This conference aims to investigate the following questions, among others:

·      - How does Big Tech facilitate digital misogyny?

·      - What is the nature and scope of digital harms to marginalised persons?

·      Are there distinct forms of digital resistance to fight against the push of traditional values and far-right ideals?

This conference aims to bring together scholars from philosophy, science and technology studies (STS), media studies, information science, communications, data science, computer science, political science, and other fields working on gender, sexuality, decolonisation, feminism and technology.

Topics that will be included in the call for papers for researchers to consider may include, but are not limited to:

·      Democracy and AI

·      Digital Divide

·      AI gender bias

·      AI and feminism

·      Epistemic injustice and AI

·      Sexual Deepfakes and Generative AI

·      Geek masculinity and Digital misogyny

·      Digital Resistance to heteronormative values, interests of the tech elite

·      Queer digital archives and alternative platforms

·      Grassroots resistance to algorithmic erasure.

 

Abstract length: 500 words

Abstract Submission deadline: 20 August 2026.

Submit Abstracts to: gspaa...@gmail.com

Notification of abstract acceptance: 31 August 2026.

Queries: gspaa...@gmail.com

Funding: This conference is part of the grant project Safeguarding Justice & Democracy in the Age of AI. Funding is provided by the University of Johannesburg Global Excellence and Stature.

Accepted speakers will be responsible for their own visa, travel, and accommodation. This is a hybrid conference; as such, an online presentation is a possibility. In your submission, please state your preference for in-person or online. 

Kind regards, 

Paige