Sense of agency in motherhood
Beschrijving
Between 2 and 6 February 2026, the Antwerp Winterschool on Feminism and Motherhood will reflect on the complicated but philosophically rich relation between feminism and motherhood. Together with you, we will look for philosophical frameworks and conceptual tools to think through experiences and practices related to motherhood. At the same time, we will also explore whether practices of mothering (particularly more recent or overlooked ones) can challenge long-held traditional philosophical views. The programme consists of an exciting mix of interdisciplinary lectures, close reading sessions and group discussions. After a week of philosophising about contemporary motherhood and mothering with your peers and teachers, you will leave this winterschool with fresh insights and novel questions to explore in your own research and daily life.
Programma
The relationship between feminism and motherhood is complicated but fascinating. While famous Western feminists publicly opposed (the institution of) motherhood, and some contemporary feminists still find it difficult to reconcile motherhood with their feminist convictions, other critical thinkers like black and indigenous feminists, queer and crip scholars, have pointed out the emancipatory potential of the mothering practice. Rather than spelling out the complicated relation between feminism and motherhood directly, during this winterschool we will explore it through the topic of sense of agency in motherhood. Through guest lectures and discussions, and by reading and discussing mothering accounts in cultural expressions (e.g. literature, film...) we will explore the possible meanings of sense of agency in this context and the many factors influencing mothers’ sense of agency.
Among the topics for discussion are mothers’ complicity in their own oppression, TERFs, matrescence literature, infertility in academia, migrant mothers’ experiences, parenting apps, mom rage, birth strikes and (gendered division of) household labour.
Confirmed speakers are Charlotte Knowles, Stefan Ramaekers, Amal Miri, Ladan Rahbari, Michiel De Proost, Sigrid Wallaert, Federica Bono and Suzanne Grotenhuis.
Opmerkingen
6 ECTS credits are awarded upon successful completion of the programme.
