FW: INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP WERE WOMEN PRESENT AT THE DEMOGRAPHIC TRANSITION ? University of Nijmegen, The Netherlands

[Katalin Fabian]

> Subject: INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP   WERE WOMEN PRESENT AT THE DEMOGRAPHIC
> TRANSITION ? University of Nijmegen, The Netherlands
> 
> INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP   WERE WOMEN PRESENT AT THE DEMOGRAPHIC
> TRANSITION ? University of Nijmegen, The Netherlands
> 20-21 May 2005
> 
> The aim of this workshop is to look at the role gender played in
> shifting 
> demographic structures from high levels of celibacy, high rates
> of births 
> and deaths and late ages at marriage towards more modern
> demographic 
> structures characterised by low levels of births and deaths, as
> well as 
> early and universal marriage. Mainstream historical demography
> has either 
> relied on macro statistical approaches hiding individual agency
> or on 
> individual-level analyses focusing exclusively on attributes
> pertaining to 
> men in explaining changing demographic patterns, whether it be
> religion, or 
> socio-economic characteristics such as occupation, or family of
> origin. 
> Despite the fact that the role of men as men is almost never
> focused upon 
> explicitly, it nevertheless contributes to a construction of the
> male as an 
> agent of modernisation. Women are entirely left out of this
> picture, 
> belonging as they do to the private sphere of the family, where
> they are 
> undergoing rather that (co-)constructing social change. Women
> are thus not 
> envisaged as decision-makers where it concerns marriage,
> fertility and 
> family formation.
> 
> This workshop therefore wants to look at the role women played
> in shaping 
> the demographic transition, as well as the way in which gender,
> as 
> pertaining to men as well as women, was a constituent part of
> this process 
> of change. Papers are invited which deal with any aspect related
> to the 
> demographic transition, ranging from mortality, migration,
> fertility 
> patterns, or household and family formation. Questions that may
> be 
> considered revolve around the issue whether particular socio-
> economic 
> groups of women were leading actors in changing marital and
> fertility 
> patterns. Which circumstances bolstered women's capacities to
> control or 
> reshape their reproductive lives, or which historical
> circumstances or 
> processes were leading women to change their 'mentalité'
> regarding children
> and family? To what extent was declining infant mortality
> related to 
> changing patterns in women's work experience, to their
> increasing 
> educational levels or any other change in women's social
> position? What 
> role did gender play in the decision-making process around
> family and 
> children? Which constructions of masculinity or femininity were
> involved in 
> this shift towards so-called modern demographic patterns?
> 
> The workshop aims to include empirical research from various
> European 
> countries. There will be invited papers only, with a small
> number of 
> additional guests. The workshop will start with a keynote
> lecture open to 
> the general academic public by Professor Leonore Davidoff (Essex
> University, Founder editor of Gender&History). Papers have to be
> submitted 
> and circulated beforehand and will be discussed during the
> workshop. The 
> aim is to publish (a selection of) the papers presented in
> either a volume 
> or a special issue of a journal.
> 
> Abstracts for proposed papers may be submitted not later than
> 15th of 
> August 2004. Abstracts should be around 800 words, stating
> clearly, the 
> questions that will be examined, the type of empirical material
> that will 
> be used, and an outline of the main argument that will be
> developed in the 
> paper.  Please state explicitly in what way the paper is related
> to any of 
> the issues raised above and in what way gender is integrated as
> an 
> analytical category.  Please state clearly name, address, fax
> number, and 
> email address when submitting your proposal.  Proposals should
> be sent to: 
> Dr. Angélique Janssens, University of Nijmegen, Department of
> History/Centre for Women's Studies, P.O. Box 9103, 6500 HD
> Nijmegen, The 
> Netherlands, fax: * 3124361 2807, email: a.janssens at let.kun.nl
> 
> More information Centre for Women's Studies: www.kun.nl/cvv
> 
> 
> Location: The Netherlands
> Deadline: August 15, 2004 (May 2005 Workshop)
> Website: www.kun.nl/cvv
>