Reflection on My Research and Experience at TASA 2025

Receiving the TASA 2025 Postgraduate Bursary represented a key opportunity to further develop my doctoral research and strengthen my academic networks within a critical and collaborative space for dialogue. I am currently a PhD candidate in Latin American Studies, and my research focuses on contemporary feminist movements in Chile, with particular attention to the interpretive frames of violence against women between 2015 and 2025.

As part of the conference, I presented the paper entitled “Framing Violence Against Women in Chile 2015–2025”, in which I examine how the Chilean feminist movement has contributed to redefining gender-based violence as a structural, institutional, and cultural problem through discursive, performative, and emotional repertoires. This research engages with broader debates on social movements, gender, and public policy, and seeks to contribute a situated and comparative perspective on feminist struggles in Latin America.

Attending TASA 2025 was a deeply enriching experience. Presenting my work, receiving feedback from scholars at different career stages, and participating in panels and informal conversations allowed me to refine my arguments, clarify my theoretical and methodological contributions, and envision new lines of research. The interdisciplinary nature of the conference and its generous intellectual environment were particularly valuable for conducting socially engaged and critical research.

The bursary was essential in making my in-person participation possible, as it enabled me to cover travel and accommodation costs. As a mother and an international PhD student based in Auckland, meeting these expenses would have been particularly challenging without this support. In this sense, the bursary not only provided concrete financial assistance but also represented meaningful recognition of my academic work and the material conditions under which postgraduate research is carried out.

Overall, TASA 2025 was a highly significant academic and personal experience. The bursary not only facilitated my attendance and academic mobility, but also contributed to strengthening my identity as an early-career researcher and my commitment to international academic communities oriented toward social justice, feminism, and collective transformation.



My warmest regards

Constanza Pavez Montenegro

PhD Candidate in Latin American Studies

University of Auckland