Labors of Love in Latin America

CFP: LALHC at Duke University, May 2007

Labors of Love: Domestic Work in Latin American Labor History
Duke University
4-5 May 2007

Founded in 1984, the Latin American Labor History Conference has provided a venue for sustained and intimate intellectual engagement that is prized by faculty and graduate students alike. This two-day conference fosters a relaxed, workshop atmosphere for specialists in Latin American labor. In addition to offering an opportunity for established academics to present papers, the conference has served as a valuable forum for graduate students to present works in progress. The LALHC requires prior circulation of papers among all participants and discussants, and sessions allow ample time for discussion. Frequently, the conference has been organized around specific themes, and many papers have later been published as articles or book chapters.

This year's LALHC will center on the theme of reproductive labor, including both paid and unpaid household labor, the "caring labors" of childrearing and eldercare, and the community labors of maintaining community organizations and networks. The minimal visibility of reproductive labor in official documentation makes conferences a particularly important venue for collaborative efforts and the exchange of sources and methods.

Final papers will be due for pre-circulation on 1 April 2007. To propose a paper for inclusion in the 2007 LALHC, please send a title and 250-word abstract by 1 December 2006 to:
Jocelyn Olcott
Department of History
Duke University
Box 90719
Durham, NC 27708-0719
USA
Or via e-mail: [mailto]olcott@duke.edu[/mailto]