Gender and Development, Women's Studies

Associate Professor Barbara Baird

“Plotting the demise of oppression and injustice can change your life, and those around you.”

Barbara Baird identifies as an activist academic. She has taught Women’s & Gender Studies in South Australia and Tasmania. Her research has focused on histories of abortion and maternity and the politics of sexuality. She is committed to community engagement and, with others from Flinders University and beyond, is leading the South Australian campaign to decriminalise abortion. She acknowledges the sovereignty of the Kaurna people on whose land she lives, works and dreams of a positive future for the planet.

Associate Professor Baird’s research investigates the histories and cultural politics of sexuality and reproduction in C20th and C21st Australia, and the shaping of these by the politics of race and national identity. She is particularly interested in abortion and LGBTIQ politics.

Dr Laura Roberts

Laura Roberts received her PhD in Philosophy from The University of Queensland, Australia where she taught philosophy and gender studies before taking up a position as Lecturer in Women’s and Gender at Flinders University in 2020.

Laura’s teaching interests in gender studies include intersections with philosophy, political activism and film. Her research interests include feminist and post/decolonial philosophy, contemporary social movements and, more recently, feminist philosophies of technology. Laura has published in these areas and her monographIrigaray and Politics: A Critical Introduction(published by Edinburgh University Press) was published in June 2019.