"Natality, Embodiment and the Political: Feminist Conversations," University of Dundee, May 28-29, 2009.

Keynote Speakers: Christine Battersby and Adriana Cavarero The conference will explore the productive conjunction between natality, embodiment and the political in contemporary feminist philosophy. The starting point will be the influential work of our keynote speakers - Christine Battersby and Adriana Cavarero. In different ways their work shows how philosophy and politics are transformed when natality and the female body that births are placed at the centre of our thought. The aim of the conference is not solely to establish their work as a point of reference for feminist appropriations. The objective is rather to think with them: to explore feminist lines of thought that open up from or intersect with key aspects of their thinking. We welcome papers on the following themes: ● The conjunction between natality and politics ● Rethinking the political in feminist theory ● Transforming philosophy for a body that births ● Phenomenological approaches to the female body and birth ● Thinking feminist theory after Arendt ● The relationship between power, bodies and the political ● Feminist approaches to embodiment, self and identity Proposals for a 3000 word paper or a panel of up to three speakers should be sent to j.k.oksala@dundee.ac.uk. The proposal should be max. 500 words for a paper and 1000 words for a panel. The deadline of proposals is 14th November. A limited number of student bursaries will be available. The bursaries will cover the registration fee plus a contribution towards travel (UK students £100, Overseas students £200). Please indicate in your proposal if you are applying for a bursary. For further information, please contact: Dr. Johanna Oksala Senior Lecturer Philosophy, School of Humanities University of Dundee j.k.oksala@dundee.ac.uk Dr. Rachel Jones Lecturer Philosophy, School of Humanities University of Dundee r.e.jones@dundee.ac.uk