Introduction, Lilith: a Feminist History Journal: number 30

With articles grounded in Australian, American, African and French cultures, the 2024 issue of Lilith continues its important remit of internationalisation and increased diversity of scholarship, thanks in part to an infusion of exciting content generated by our successful 2023 hybrid symposium at the Australian Catholic University (ACU) around the theme of ‘Gender and Joy’.1 Several of the articles were also inspired by the Australian Historical Association conference of 2024, which focused on ‘Home Truths’, including a substantial stream from the Australian Women’s History Network, a report on which is also included in this issue, written by Tianna Killoran and Nadia Gregory. These foci may seem entirely opposite: on the one hand— joy; while on the other—painful truths. But they are more compatible than it may seem, since in selecting the theme of joy, the Lilith Collective encouraged participants not to deny painful, difficult or unjust histories of women, gender-diverse people and feminist movements, but to focus on the forms of bonding, laughter, joy, love, creativity, enterprise and fun that have helped those struggling for gender justice to find resilience in the face of their struggles.