[2][3] Although founded in the United States, with offices in New York City, the MLA's membership, concerns, reputation, and influence are international in scope.

Approximately eight to twelve thousand members attend, depending on the location, which alternates among major cities in various regions of the United States.

Language departments of many universities and colleges interview candidates for teaching positions at the convention, although hiring occurs all year long.

[7][8][9][10][11] In addition to its job-placement activities, the convention features about 800 sessions, including presentations of papers and panel discussions on diverse topics (special sessions, forums, poetry readings, film presentations, interdisciplinary studies involving art and music, governance meetings) and social events hosted by English and language departments and allied or affiliated organizations.

[12] In The New Criterion, a classicist and politically conservative[13][14] magazine, Roger Kimball and Hilton Kramer argued that this was part of a "rampant politicization of literary study that the MLA has aggressively supported" in American colleges and universities, including elevating popular culture to a position of parity with great works of literature as subjects for classroom study, and other "radical" postures.

Campaigners use this tactic to divert attention from the plight of the entire Palestinian population living under Israel's elaborate system of colonial repression and injustice to a manufactured victimization of Israeli academics.

In the letter addressed to the association's President Kwame Anthony Appiah and Executive Director Rosemary G. Feal, the center claimed that the resolution was ultra vires.

The executive council released a statement in advance stating that while they are "appalled by the continued attack on Gaza," a BDS resolution would present "legal and fiduciary" challenges.