Unpacking Masculinities in Times of Turmoil

14.-16. Jun
7th International Conference on Research on Men and Masculinity Studies
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Unpacking Masculinities in Times of Turmoil

The University of Akureyri welcomes researchers, policymakers, practitioners, educators, activists and artists to the 7th International Conference on Research on Men and Masculinity Studies, taking place in Akureyri, Iceland, from 14 to 16 June 2027.

Under the theme Unpacking Masculinities in Times of Turmoil, the conference will explore how political, economic, environmental, cultural and technological transformations are reshaping masculinities, gender relations and contemporary society.

The conference is organised by the Nordic Association for Research on Men and Masculinities in collaboration with the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Akureyri and the Directorate of Equality in Iceland.

Call for Abstracts is now open

We invite submissions for individual papers, panels, roundtables and other formats that critically examine masculinities in times of political, economic, environmental and social change.

The conference welcomes contributions from scholars and researchers as well as policymakers, practitioners, educators, activists and artists interested in exploring contemporary masculinities and imagining more equitable futures.

  • Abstract submission deadline: 15 December 2026
  • Notification of acceptance: By 20 January 2027

Submit your abstract

Explore the Conference

ABOUT THE CONFERENCE

We are living in times of profound global change. Political, economic, environmental and technological transformations are reshaping everyday life, challenging established institutions and redefining social relations.

Democratic institutions and feminism face growing challenges from authoritarian and populist movements, while anti-gender mobilisation has intensified alongside advances in gender equality and gender autonomy. Artificial intelligence and digital platforms are transforming working life while continuing to reproduce social inequalities. Climate change, geopolitical conflict and demographic shifts are also reshaping communities, identities and imagined futures.

Against this backdrop, the conference asks: How are these transformations reshaping masculinities and gendered power relations?

The conference will examine the paradoxes of contemporary masculinities, including tensions between equality and backlash, care and control, inclusion and exclusion, security and vulnerability, and resilience and precarity.

By bringing together diverse perspectives from academia and beyond, the conference aims to encourage critical dialogue, challenge established assumptions and explore possibilities for more just and equitable futures.

CONFERENCE THEMES

We welcome contributions addressing masculinities through themes including, but not limited to:

  • Equality progress and backlash
  • Political masculinities and demographic change
  • Anti-gender politics and populism
  • Social media and artificial intelligence
  • Health, emotion and suicide
  • Embodied masculinities and affect
  • Nationalism and militarisation
  • Geopolitics and Indigenous rights
  • Labour markets and precarity
  • Migration, borders and transnational masculinities
  • Climate change and ecological masculinities
  • Queer, trans and non-binary masculinities
  • Fatherhood and changing intimacies
  • Ageing masculinities
  • Youth and intergenerational change
  • Disability and embodiment
  • Methodological innovations

Keynote Speakers

We are pleased to announce our confirmed keynote speaker Professor Tristan Bridges, University of California, Santa Barbara, USA, Editor-in-Chief of Men and Masculinities.

Further keynote speakers will be announced in due course.

Registration and Fees

Registration Category Early bird – until 15 February 2027 Standard – until 15 March 2027
Regular fee €180  €230
Non-funded students and precariously employed scholars €120 €140
  • Registration deadline: 15 March 2027
  • Conference registration fees are non-refundable after 1 April
  • Further information about registration and the conference programme will be announced in due course

Accommodation

Hotel Kea, Akureyri

Conference participants can enjoy a 10% discount on accommodation at Hotel Kea, located in the heart of Akureyri.

  • Promotional code: MASCULINE2027
  • Discount: 10% off online rates
  • Booking period: 2 October 2026 – 13 June 2027
  • Stay dates: 13–17 June 2027

The discount is available exclusively through the Kea Hotels website and cannot be combined with other offers. If a higher discount is already available, the higher discount will apply.

Enter the promotional code when booking directly through the hotel website. Discounted rates will be displayed during the booking process.

If availability is not displayed when using the code, try refreshing the page while keeping the code entered.

Practical Information

  • The conference will take place from 14 to 16 June 2027 at the University of Akureyri, Iceland
  • The conference dinner will be held on the evening of Tuesday, 15 June 2027, at Múlaberg, located in the same building as Hotel Kea in central Akureyri. Further information about the dinner will be provided closer to the conference
  • The detailed conference programme will be published at a later date
  • Akureyri is located in North Iceland and offers a welcoming setting for international conferences, surrounded by mountains, fjords and spectacular natural landscapes
  • For information about travel, accommodation and things to see and do in Akureyri and North Iceland, please visit Visit North Iceland

Further Information

For further information about the conference, please contact Árdís Kár Ingvars, Assistant Professor, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, ardis@unak.is 

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