Call for Papers

Gender and the 'Private Sphere' in Italy: Home, Family and Sexuality

Association for the Study of Modern Italy Annual Conference 2002

Italian Cultural Institute, Belgrave Square, London
22-23 November 2002.

Conference website address:
http://www.selc.ed.ac.uk/italian/gender/

This interdisciplinary conference aims to be a forum for debate
on the role of gender in the private sphere in 19th, 20th and 21st
century Italy, with a particular focus on the family and sexuality.
Whilst scholars from a number of disciplines have written in
variety of ways about the Italian family, an institution which has
often been depicted as particularly important in this national
context, the question of sexuality has been relatively neglected.
This conference hopes to attract papers that address innovative
questions about both of these themes. Proposals are invited on
any aspect of the role and development of the Italian family, on
changing notions of 'home' as a cultural, social and architectural
concept and on legislative, social and cultural ideas about
sexuality.

Topics for papers might include: changing concepts of
parenthood, fatherhood and motherhood; marital and family law;
state, religious and political attempts to shape and intervene in
the private sphere; history of birth control and abortion;
courtship, marriage and divorce; lesbian and gay identities; sex
education; adultery; prostitution and the sex trade; medical
interventions in the private sphere including the impact of new
reproductive technologies; changing spatial and architectural
notions of 'home'; the history of housework; illegitimacy, single
parent families, fostering and adoption; the role of kinship in
shaping historically shifting notions of personhood, morality and
identity; sexual science; pornography; censorship and morality
crusades; sexual abuse; sexual violence.

Offers of papers are invited from historians (C19th and C20th),
anthropologists, political scientists, sociologists and
cultural/film/media studies specialists. Those engaged in new and
innovative research are particularly encouraged to submit
proposals.

Abstracts of proposals plus a short CV should be sent to Dr Perry
Willson (Department of SELC-Italian, University of Edinburgh,
Scotland - [log in to unmask] ) or Dr Paola Filippucci (Dept of
Social Anthropology, University of Cambridge, England -
[log in to unmask] ).
Abstracts should be about 250 words in length, sent as an email
attachment, listing name, organisation, contact address, telephone
and e-mail address and should include the title of the proposed
paper. Although the conference focuses on Italy, all abstracts
must be in English. All papers will be given in English.

The deadline for the submission of proposals is 6th May 2002.
Proposers will be informed whether or not their paper has been
accepted by the beginning of June 2002.
It is envisaged that papers will last no longer than 30 minutes
(plenaries) or 20 minutes (panels) to allow time for discussion.

[end of call for papers]


Martin Brown
ASMI Secretary
Senior Lecturer in History
School of Humanities and Social Sciences
Staffordshire University
College Road
Stoke on Trent
ST4 2DE
E-Mail: [log in to unmask]
Tel: 01782 - 294704 (direct)
     01782 - 294415 (School Office)
School Fax: 01782 - 294760

--- End Forwarded Message ---


Martin Brown
Senior Lecturer in History
School of Humanities and Social Sciences
Staffordshire University
College Road
Stoke on Trent
ST4 2DE
E-Mail: [log in to unmask]
Tel: 01782 - 294704 (direct)
     01782 - 294415 (School Office)
School Fax: 01782 - 294760