ARCSHS Seminar
Gendered citizenship and embodied rights in post-colonial Kenya
Christina Kenny, Australian National University
Abstract
Christina will present findings from her doctoral research, which combines an engagement with scholarly literature on gender, post-colonial feminism, human rights theory and practice, and Kenyan history and historiography, with research gathered during 13 months of field work, living and working in Nairobi, and rural locations around Lake Victoria. She develops Sally Engle Merry’s work on the vernacularisation of transnational gender rights projects, and taking Kenya as a case study, argues that the local histories and hierarchies of gendered power must be understood in much more nuanced and critical manner that we are doing presently.
In centering the lived experiences and views of Kenyan women and Kenyans of diverse sexual orientation, gender identity and expression; and historicising the production of these identities, Christina critically evaluates the efficacy of modern human rights discourses and projects in local contexts. This work seeks to contribute to the post-colonial feminist project which explores the complex and intersecting dimensions of gender, sexuality, ethnicity and culture.
Biography
Christina Kenny works on human rights and development with a focus on critical colonial histories, gendered citizenship, and gender and sexuality rights. Her post-doctoral research interests include examining the impacts of transnational rights campaigns on local queer identities, particularly in Kenya and South Africa.
Tuesday 24th April 1:00pm – 2:00pm
Institute of Advanced Studies seminar room
Building NR8, La Trobe University, Bundoora, 3086
Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society (ARCSHS),
Tel: +61 3 9479 8700
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