<http://casca-news.blogspot.com/2009/03/call-for-papers-sma-conference-y
ale.html>
Call for Papers: SMA Conference, Yale University, September 2009
Session Title: Reproductive conjunctures
Organizers: Erica van der Sijpt (University of Amsterdam), Anita Hardon
(University of Amsterdam)
Session Abstract:
Reproductive lives are characterized by many critical moments: the onset
of menstruation, initiation of sexual activities, choices for fertility
regulation, pregnancies, choices for HIV-tests, deliveries, reproductive
disruptions, reproductive infections, abortion practices, or menopause
are only the most obvious examples of a broad array of important
reproductive happenings in people's lives. These events are neither
homogeneous, nor unambiguously experienced. Rather, they are surrounded
by multiple hopes, desires, fears, uncertainties, ambitions and stakes -
both within and between cultural and health care contexts. People mostly
interpret and act upon them in a very indeterminate and highly
context-dependent way. Thus, in order to understand how people make
sense of and navigate these reproductive events, they should be studied
in-depth and situated within wider social environments and health care
contexts- as 'reproductive conjunctures'.
The aims of this panel are twofold. Firstly, we will focus
on specific reproductive conjunctures in different locales and aim to
discover the reproductive stakes and interpretations and practices
surrounding them. Secondly, on a more general level, the panel seeks to
theorize about how people and health care workers try to manage and give
direction to reproductive trajectories at these reproductive
conjunctures. How can different theories about shed light on people's
experiences and behavior at critical moments in their reproductive
lives? Which theoretical concepts could be used, explored or developed
to make analytical sense of the turmoil and indeterminacy that often
surrounds reproductive conjunctures?
Please forward proposed titles and abstracts by April 9 to:
r.e.c.both@uva.nl
