3-4 June 2015, 28 Bedford Square, London WC1B 3JS
www.birmingham.ac.uk/beautydemands
This workshop will explore how cosmetic surgery defines beauty norms and vice versa, and the role of medical professionals in developing, offering and carrying out aesthetic procedures. It will consider the extent to which deviation from the ‘norm’ becomes ‘ill-health’ and the extent to which medical professionals consider that such work is continuous with, or distinct from, medical work. The workshop will discuss the impact this has on the wider public perception of the role of the medical profession, understandings of ‘patients as consumers’ and what this means for consent, safety and regulation issues. The workshop will also begin to consider how ‘routine’ such procedures are considered to be by those using them for cosmetic reasons (for instance, different attitudes to the risks of breast implants).
Abstracts are sought from current graduate students for this workshop in any discipline relevant to the topic, including but not exclusively, Philosophy, Psychology, Law, Sociology, Medicine and Gender Studies. Please submit abstracts by email using the title “beauty demands workshop 2”. Abstracts should be submitted to Laura Medhurst (lmedhurst@nuffieldbioethics.org<mailto:lmedhurst@nuffieldbioethics.org>) by 17 April at 4pm. Abstracts should be between 250 and 500 words, and please note that late abstracts cannot be considered. We will cover economy travel and accommodation costs for UK researchers invited to attend.
Confirmed speakers for this workshop include:
• Sarah Creighton (Consultant Gynaecologist and Honorary Clinical Professor, University College London Hospitals)
• Mark Henley (Consultant Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeon, Nottingham and Derby NHS Hospitals)
• Chris Khoo (Cosmetic and Plastic Surgeon)
• Carolyn Mair (Psychology, London College of Fashion)
• James Partridge (Chief Executive, Changing Faces)
· Nichola Rumsey (Co-Director of the Centre for Appearance Research, University of the West of England)
Join the network
We would like to encourage anyone interested in this area to join the BeautyDemands network. Our aim is to promote cross-disciplinary academic engagement in public and policy debate on topical beauty issues. We are interested in bringing together scholars, policy makers, practitioners, activists and others who work in the area of beauty norms, practices and body-image. We will be doing this by hosting four workshops, but also by promoting virtual discussion via Twitter (@beautydemands<https://twitter.com/beautydemands>, #beautydemands) and the BeautyDemands blog<https://beautydemands.wordpress.com/>. To express your interest in joining the network and writing a blog, please contact Rakinder Reehal: ReehalR@adf.bham.ac.uk<mailto:ReehalR@adf.bham.ac.uk>
Please note, while many of those in the network take a particular stand on beauty issues the network aims to facilitate open and respectful debate and discussion. It aims to welcome those with all views and to encourage exchange of views and does not endorse one single perspective.