Mar
01
Megan Gallagher - Conference Testimonial
Attending an academic conference can be intimidating, especially when you’re new to the field and the organization. In fact, the 32nd Annual Conference in Rome was the first IAFFE event I ever went to, and I was incredibly nervous. It had only been a month or two since my exposure to IAFFE as an organization and about four months since I had even learned of feminist economics. I was in my last term of graduate school at King’s College London, working towards a MSc in International Development, when I first learned of feminist economics and quickly became both enamored by its ideas and enraptured by its transformative potential. Walking into my first day of lectures with Dr. Sheba Tejani, I never would have imagined how immersed I would become in IAFFE in such a short amount of time. Nor would I have expected the impending community of like-minded academics and professionals who would accept me as a peer despite my ‘newbie’ status.
Attending the conference frightened me, and I nearly convinced myself not to go due to my lack of experience and published research. The conference would be attended by world renowned economists, professors, published authors, industry professionals, and PhD students- who was I to go? I had not planned on attending until Dr. Tejani encouraged me - much to my surprise. My professor did not hesitate at the idea of a Master’s student, still working on her dissertation, taking part. It is through her encouragement that I found the courage to go, and through my gratitude, I hope to return the favor for other students.
As the host city of Rome added an extra magic in the air, my anxiety faded as I planned my schedule for the coming days, and the excitement quickly took over. The classrooms of Sapienza Universita di Roma buzzed with economists from around the world, discussions of justice, and gender equality research. I sat in on sessions where academics eloquently presented detailed, data-driven research on feminist issues, and despite fearing not knowing anyone, the breaks were filled with introductions and lively discussion. I became connected to the feminist economics community and gained insight into the diverse ways people applied feminist principles in their work across sectors. Just as feminist economics had reshaped my worldview, the IAFFE conference expanded my vision of careers in the field.
As I walked through the Roman Forum on the last evening, the sun setting over the crumbled marble pillars and a stomach full of pasta, I felt incredibly grateful for the opportunity and, honestly, proud of myself. The idea of attending had seemed exciting yet daunting, and through all the nerves, I felt I had come out on the other side a burgeoning feminist economist.
The IAFFE conference made a career in feminist economics feel tangible - the conversations I longed to be part of were happening, and not just in Rome. There was a global network of people with shared passions and worldviews, and I had joined it. I hope other students do too.
