The 20th Annual York University Graduate Student Conference in Education
May 6-8th, 2024 (Online)
Beyond Taboos: Rethinking Education for a Changing World
Register for our in-personal social!
PRESENTERS ONLY! Submit your conference paper to the YU-WRITE Journal!
“Naming things, breaking through taboos and denial is the most dangerous, terrifying, and crucial work. This has to happen in spite of political climates or coercions, in spite of careers being won or lost, in spite of the fear of being criticized, outcast or disliked. I believe freedom begins with naming things. Humanity is preserved by it.” - Eve Ensle
As the 20th Annual York University Graduate Student Conference in Education comes to a close, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to all who attended and presented their insightful research. Your contributions have enriched our exploration of uncharted territories in education and helped redefine the boundaries of learning. Thank you for being part of this milestone event.
We would greatly appreciate your feedback on this year’s conference! Help us to make next year even better! We want to hear from you!
Following the conference, we're thrilled to extend an invitation to our in-person post-conference social event at the Graduate Student Lounge in Winter College, York University Keel Campus (Room WC 113). We welcome everyone to join us for light snacks, coffee/tea, and engaging conversations! Please confirm your attendance for May 31st from 3:30-5:30 pm by RSVPing here: https://forms.gle/KtV1TsyhD5atrUmK9
As promised, we wanted to make accessible some of the interactive and PowerPoint presentations from our esteemed presenters. Please find the artifacts from the Beyond Taboo conference below:
Embark on a delectable journey into Indigenous cuisine with Mr. Rick Powless's Beginner's Indigenous Cooking Class Workshop. Discover the diverse flavors and cultural heritage woven into every dish, crafted from affordable and readily available ingredients.
E-Zine and Mutual Aid Guide for Borderline Personality Disorder: Challenging Norms of Knowledge Creation and Education by Ayesha Bhatti, Olivia Scobie, and Moktadir Kabir
Kids Help Phone Information Session Facilitated by Nazila Tolooei
Workshop Event: Knowledge mobilization and social media in research dissemination Facilitated by Ann Marie Murnaghan
Theme Overview:
In the realm of education, we often encounter unspoken norms, silenced narratives, and forbidden territories. The theme of "Taboo" invites us to delve into the unconventional, challenging the status quo and questioning the boundaries of conventional educational discourse. This conference seeks to confront the uncomfortable, address silenced narratives, and provoke critical dialogue on the power dynamics, social constructs, and systemic structures that contribute to what is considered taboo in education.
Reimagining Education:
The prefix "Taboo" prompts us to reconsider, redefine, and reimagine our understanding of education. It signifies a space where we confront the uncomfortable and address the silenced narratives within our educational systems. The term "Taboo" invites us to delve into the forbidden, the unconventional, and the often overlooked aspects of education. In this liminal space, we challenge the norms and engage with topics that provoke, question, and push the boundaries of conventional educational discourse. Taboo is not just about breaking societal norms but also about understanding the power dynamics, social constructs, and systemic structures that contribute to what is considered taboo in education (Douglas, 2003). As Mary Douglas (2003) points out, the understanding of taboos in cultural and symbolic dimensions provides a way for societies to structure the world. She argues that societies use concepts of purity and danger to construct their understanding of the world. In this framework, taboos are mechanisms through which societies articulate and reinforce their values and norms.
Special Thank You to the Conference Team:
ANNA PEARSON
CHLOE JONES
CHUNLEI LIU
ESTHER MARTINEZ
LISA SMITH
RICK POWLESS
SHEETAL PRASAD
York University Community:
We extend our sincere gratitude to the following departments and groups for their generous contributions to this conference:
FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES
GRADUATE PROGRAM OFFICE AT THE FACULTY OF EDUCATION
DR. GABRIELLE MOSER, GRADUATE PROGRAM DIRECTOR
FACULTY OF EDUCATION DEAN'S OFFICE
YORK GRADUATE STUDENTS IN EDUCATION (YGSE)
***For inquiries, please contact the Graduate Conference Coordinators at gradconf@edu.yorku.ca
Bibliography:
Alexander, J. C. (2004). Rethinking strangeness: From structures in space to discourses in civil society. Thesis Eleven, 79(1), 87–104. https://doi.org/10.1177/0725513604046959
Douglas, P. M. D., Mary. (2013). Purity and danger: An analysis of concepts of pollution and taboo. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315015811
Ensler, E. (2006, March 20). The power and mystery of naming things. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2006/03/20/5285531/the-power-and-mystery-of-naming-things
Farberow, N. L. (2014). Taboo topics. AldineTransaction.
Gozansky, Y. (2018). Showing puberty: Overcoming the taboo in children’s television. Sex Education, 18(5), 555–570. https://doi.org/10.1080/14681811.2018.1441019
Linder, S., & Majerus, E. (Eds.). (2016). Can I teach that? Negotiating taboo language and controversial topics in the language arts classroom. Rowman & Littlefield.
