In this talk, Dr. Przybylo explores the many ways in which asexuality, as a queer orientation, poses a queer challenge to our thinking around sexuality, gender, and romance culture. Looking at examples from popular culture and contemporary young adult texts, including on social media, she will also provide an introduction to some of the main coordinates of asexuality studies including its conceptual contributions around rethinking compulsory sexuality, romance, and kinship. Alongside these concerns, prompts will be provided for those in attendance to make a small paper project and attendees are invited to bring their own scissors, color paper they can write on, and items to write with.

Ela Przybyło (she/they) is Associate Professor in the Department of English and core faculty in the Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program at Illinois State University** where she teaches courses on feminist and queer studies studies and critical publishing studies. In 2017–2019 she was Ruth Wynn Woodward Fellow in the Department of Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies at Simon Fraser University and in 2016–2017 she was a Visiting Assistant Professor in Women and Gender Studies at Arizona State University. Between 2016–2018 she held the SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellowship. Focusing on the sexual identity and orientation of asexuality, Ela works on increasing the visibility of asexual communities, knowledges, and cultural producers in feminist and sexuality scholarship. She earned a PhD in Gender, Feminist, and Women’s Studies from York University (2016), an MA in English and Film Studies and Women’s and Gender Studies from the University of Alberta (2011), a BA (Honors) in Women’s and Gender Studies from the University of Alberta (2009), and a Bachelor of Design with Distinction from the University of Alberta (2007).