07/04/2026

CSCA 2027 ... Women’s Caucus Call for Papers

WOMEN’S CAUCUS

Call for Papers and Panels

Central States Communication Association (CSCA) Annual Convention

Madison, WI

April 7^th -11^th, 2027

Navigate–Finding Inspiration in Uncharted Terrain

The CSCA Women’s Caucus invites submissions of competitive papers and panel proposals examining the role of gender in communication studies. Our caucus has a long history of community engagement and activism, and we welcome submissions that address the intersection of civic concerns and how they impact women’s lives. We welcome a range of topics, and we especially encourage members to address issues related to the convention theme, Navigate–Finding Inspiration in Uncharted Terrain. Let’s come together to share our scholarship and stories, collaborate, and celebrate!

The Women’s Caucus is dedicated to the exploration of multiple feminisms and the ways in which intersectionality shape identity and difference. Feminist scholarship that intersects with issues of race, class, sexuality, age, and ability are strongly encouraged. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

• Navigating life and hardships with a feminist lens
• Feminist mentorship in tenure and non-tenured positions
• Mentorship in the job process for oppressed peoples and identities
• Immigration enforcement related concerns as international faculty, students, faculty and students of color (possible collaboration with ERICC)
• Political attacks on the rights of marginalized communities
• Navigating AI usage as the erasure of identity of authors
• Social media content and trends of feminism and anti-feminism
• Navigating student engagement and student mentorship
• Gendered social expectations in job hiring, critical etiquette, and presenting oneself in professional settings
• Gendered invisible labor in the workplace and service

We strongly encourage submissions that reflect a diversity of perspectives and institutions. Co-sponsorship between other CSCA interest groups and caucuses is highly encouraged.

Awards: The Women’s Caucus issues a Top Paper and Top Student Paper award, both of which come with a $50 reward.

Submission Guidelines

Papers:

• Only complete papers will be considered.
• Papers must conform to APA 7th edition guidelines and be prepared for anonymous review.
• Papers must include a title and a brief abstract.
• Papers must not exceed 25 double-spaced pages (not including title page, abstract, references, and appendices)
• Graduate students should type “STUDENT” on the upper right-hand corner of the title page.
  • If the paper will be a single authored graduate student debut, please type “DEBUT STUDENT” in the upper right-hand corner of the title page.
  • To be considered a graduate student debut paper the author must be a graduate student, the paper must have single authorship, and the paper must be the author’s first paper presented at CSCA
• If you would like your paper to be considered for the Inclusive Scholarship Award, type “INCLUSIVE SCHOLARSHIP” in the upper right-hand corner of the title page.
  • To be considered as an exemplar of inclusive scholarship, the paper must demonstrate academic rigor in the examination of communication and historically marginalized communities/populations.
  • If you would like to be considered for this award, please clearly articulate, in at least one paragraph in your abstract, how the respective scholarship explicitly addresses equity and inclusion.
  • Additionally, be sure to select the Inclusive Scholarship option when you submit your paper.

Paper Panel Proposals:

• Paper session panels must include a panel rationale (maximum 500 words) and abstract (maximum 100 words) for each paper.

Discussion Panel Proposals:

• Discussion panels must include a panel rationale (maximum 500 words) and a brief abstract (maximum 75 words) as it would appear in the conference program describing the program.
• You are strongly encouraged to include a brief abstract (50 words or less) of each participant’s perspective or what they add to the discussion.
• Preference will be given to panels with panelists from multiple institutions.

Submission Deadline & Information:

All technology requests must be made at the time of submission. Please only request technology if it is essential to your presentation, as technology requests will be closely examined before approval. Laptop computers will not be made available for presentations.

Submissions for CSCA 2027 must be received by October 9, 2026, 11:59 pm (CDT). Send submissions electronically through our CSCA online submission system site. Submitters should be certain that all potential presenters create a profile in the CSCA online submission system site as part of their submission. Membership in CSCA is not required to create a profile.

Any questions can be directed to Dr. Anna DeGalan (adegalan@mailbox.sc.edu) and Dr. Lauren Buisker (lbuisker@bates.edu), the co-chairs and program planners for the Women’s Caucus.