Gender Studies, whose aim is the visibilization of mechanism of relation and construction of identities, roles and expressions based on sex and corporality, have experienced a remarkable development in recent times. Ever since the first studies, which aimed to reflect the role of women in History, Antiquity has been present in the speech on the origins of patriarchy. These initial researches discussed the origin of woman submission to males and meant an important advance in the creation of a series of new points of view and the posing of new questions, though they currently can be considered as outdated or even mistaken. So, although the perception of Antiquity has been recurrent, new approachings and perspectives on the past always demand new forums for debate and discussion. This is why we call for the International Congress “Gender’s fault: identities, transgressions and inter-connections in the Ancient World”. This encounter is conceived for every kind of researchers who work with gender issues focused on the Ancient World or, while not working specifically in this field, can contribute with an enriching vision on the matter.
Next, some general thematic lines for de different sessions will be exposed. However, these are not exclusives and proposals related to the congress’ main topic will be accepted. The aim is grouping participants concerning their common topics in order to foment debates.
- The legacy of Patriarchy. Despite the prehistoric origins of Patriarchy, Antiquity is the time when it is developed and established. This is carried out by the creation of legal and religious justifications, new roles or familiar models. Thus, the origin of much current social behaviours, naturalized and assumed as normal, can be placed in Antiquity.
- Woman in economy. During Antiquity, women have been owners of goods at some points and moments, though their role in economics has been mainly subordinated. This fact has implied their visibilization in society, as well as their capacity for an important social action through evergetismo, for instance. Likewise, the silence of sources (literary, epigraphic or archaeological) comes in many cases from a scarce women’s capacity for managing their own goods or practice an actual possession of them against the family males.
- Non-normative speeches. The rules on sexual identities, gender roles and social hierarchicalization seemed to be strongly set up in ancient societies, by legal codes defining them as much as for medical, scientific and social justifications. However, there were always groups and persons which defied or went beyond the established limits, breaking away from the common definitions. So, we can identify the questioning of gender in early Christianity in the figure of mulier virilise or female asceticism, legal approachings towards inter-sexual people or the first sources on trans individuals.
- Religion and gender. The religious space has been fundamental in the definition of the social role for men and women, a space where visibilizing the differences of status, but also with margin for an obvious public display. A space in which status differences and the acceptation of the socially imposed role could be showed. Specific cases such as the ban on bacchanals in Rome, the gender breakdown of the first Christian martyrs or the spaces for socialization in sanctuaries like the Brauron let us explore the social consequences of ritual, religiosity and spirituality.
- Sex and sexualities. An extensive bibliography around sex, sexual identity and gender relationship has been developed, setting Antiquity as the starting point ok key concerns of modern world such as homosexuality, bisexuality or transsexuality. The aim of this line of research is checking the ancient perception on sexuality, how did a sexual identity which has remained until the present day was created, or even offer/design a valuation on why Antiquity has been perceived as a vicious and depraved place by certain social sectors.
Those interested in taking part in the congress must send a 250 words proposal,including full name, contact details and academic institution by January 9 to laculpaesdelgenero@gmail.com
Proposals in Spanish, Italian, English, French and Portuguese will be accepted.
Registration fee will be of 10 € and it must be paid no later than January 31 by bank transfer to the account which will be provided to the accepted participants.
The congress will take place in Madrid (Spain) in the coming March 1-2, 2018.
Assistance is open and free. For those who are interested in obtaining a certificate of assistance, we ask to address the organisers via e-mail (laculpaesdelgenero@gmail.com) with their full name and ID.
deadline: january 9th
