Call for Papers
Gender, family and property in legal theory and practice: the European perspective from 10th-20th century
A conference is to be held on 21-23 September 2006, under the aegis of the Department of History and Archaeology, University of Crete, and the Institute for Mediterranean Studies, in Rethymno, Crete (Greece)
The conference will examine issues relating to the theme of gender, family and property in legal theory and practice as attested in European societies from the 10th to the 20th centuries. Possible topics within the given theme might include (but are not limited to) the following:
- State law, customary law and legal practice - The legislator, the notary and the judge
- The implications of the system of dowry and inheritance: Inequalities, discrimination and conflict
- Town vs. countryside as factors for economic and cultural differentiation
- Gender relations in law and legal practice
There will be two keynote lectures, one of whom will be given by Professor Leonore Davidoff, Research Professor at the Department of Sociology, University of Essex (UK). There will also be up to 20 communications of 25-30 minutes each to allow time for discussion. The conference will conclude with a panel discussion.
The language of the conference will be English.
Background
The incentive for the conference came from the European network “Gender differences in European legal cultures / Geschlechterdifferenz in europäischen Rechtskreisen”. The network has its roots in the current flowering attested among several European countries of research in European legal history, and the growing interest in its gendered aspects. Members of the network have already organized three conferences. The network was founded during the first one, which took place in February 2000 at the Max-Planck-Institut für europäische Rechtsgeschichte, Frankfurt, Germany. The second conference took place in 2002 at the Centro per gli studi storici italo-germanici, University of Trent, Italy, while the third occurred in September 2004, at the Royal Library Copenhagen, Denmark. The papers of the last one appeared on the Internet in October 2005 at the following ulr: http://www.kb.dk/kb/publikationer/fundogforskning/online/artikler/lessmore.htm
Present conference. The outline of the present conference was discussed in Copenhagen, where it was also agreed that the network should extend its time span so that it may include contemporary history in which much interesting work is currently being done. In Greece legal history has long developed along traditional lines but the organizers hope that the present conference will stimulate a new interest in a gendered perspective within a European context. The presentation of new research in progress, reinterpretations of evidence and methodological approaches are all welcome. We also welcome proposals for the panel discussion.
Submission
Interested historians should submit for the committee’s consideration:
- an electronic abstract of their proposed communication (in an attached document). This should be of no more than 250 words. The (provisional if need be) title should appear clearly at the top of the abstract. The presenter’s name should not appear on this page.
- a cover sheet (in a different attachment) with the following information: presenter’s name, paper, title; a brief CV including institutional affiliation and academic status, phone number and mail and email addresses.
- a request for power point or other facilities as needed.
The abstracts and any questions should be addressed electronically to kasdagli@phl.uoc.gr
Deadlines
- Abstracts should be submitted by 1st March 2006
- Acceptance of papers will be notified by April 30
- Submission of full papers (which will be then become accessible to all participants) by 20 July
Practicalities
The conference will cover the expenses of accommodation (3 nights) and most meals of all speakers. The participants will be asked to make every effort to secure travelling expenses from their own institutions but the organizers are working towards reimbursing the cost of budget travelling for those unable to find other sponsors. For more details and a preliminary programme, please visit the conference website which will operate from January 2006 at the following ulr www.history-archaeology.uoc.gr
Organizing Committee
- Antonis Anastasopoulos, Lecturer of Ottoman History, Department of History & Archaeology, University of Crete anastasopoulos@phl.uoc.gr
- Efi Avdela, Professor of Modern History, Department of History & Archaeology, University of Crete avdela@phl.uoc.gr
- Eleni Fournaraki, Assistant Professor of Modern Social History, Department of Sociology, University of Crete elfou@social.soc.uoc.gr
- Aglaia Kasdagli, Assistant Professor of Medieval History, Department of History & Archaeology,University of Crete kasdagli@phl.uoc.gr
- Antonia Kioussopoulou, Assistant Professor of Byzantine History, Department of History & Archaeology, University of Crete kioussopoulou@phl.uoc.gr
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