OCS Conference Funding Submission

Event Photo:

6th International Conference on Gender Studies and Sexuality

Berlin

Healing Through Trauma Play: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of Participant's' Personal Narratives

Name: David Salinas

Degree Program: MPA IN PUBLIC & NONPROFIT MANAGEMENT & POLICY

Specialization: PNP-Advocacy & Political Action

Conference Host Organization/Institution: IGSS

Conference/Competition Name: 6th International Conference on Gender Studies and Sexuality

Conference Term: Summer Conference Start Date: 2025-08-08 Conference End Date: 2025-08-10

What were your takeaways from this conference/case competition?
My biggest takeaway from the conference was seeing the many ways gender and sexuality intersect with policy. Issues ranging from violence against women to the lack of sex education for trans individuals reveal not only the challenges facing women and LGBTQIA+ communities, but also how thoughtful, inclusive policy could address them; if governments prioritized care for these groups. Another key insight was the striking similarities in how LGBTQIA+ individuals are treated globally. Across different countries, many experience the same patterns of isolation, abuse, and exclusion from society based solely on their gender or sexual identities.

How will your participation in this conference/case competition support your professional development?
My participation in this conference broadened my understanding of the evolving research in gender and sexuality studies. Many presenters shared forward-looking questions that remain to be explored; such as, what would a trans-inclusive sex education curriculum look like? Or, with the rise of AI, how are industries that rely on manual labor, like India’s garment industry, which is predominantly composed of women being disrupted? More than anything, this conference reaffirmed my commitment to exploring the intersection of policy with gender and sexuality studies.

What are some next steps or action items this conference/case competition inspired?
I aim to center my assignments and research projects on gender and sexualities as a lens for understanding the challenges queer and trans individuals face. My goal is to explore how these issues can be translated into concrete policy solutions and what those solutions might look like in practice. The lack of queer and trans representation in government and policy-focused organizations leaves a critical gap in effectively addressing the needs of these communities, especially under an administration actively targeting them by stripping healthcare access and erasing their presence from schools.

What are some tips or best practices that you would like to share with other Wagner students who attend a conference/case competition?
Since this conference took place abroad, there were several factors worth keeping in mind. First, do some basic research on the host city and, if possible, arrive a day early to get settled before the conference begins. Don’t hesitate to start conversations; most attendees are there to network and connect. Lastly, make the most of the sessions by engaging with presenters during the Q&A; it’s a great way to deepen your understanding and leave a lasting impression.

Wagner Areas of Impact: Health, Inequality, Race, and Poverty, International Development, Leadership