In January 2019 the new Cluster of Excellence “Beyond Slavery and Freedom. Asymmetrical Dependencies in Pre-Modern Societies” was established at the University of Bonn.
So far, dependency research has often dealt with transatlantic slavery or slavery in antiquity. The Cluster seeks to broaden this perspective in terms of content, space and time. From the starting point of five research areas, researchers will explore perspectives of dependency(ies), with the added aim of also broadening individual academic training through cooperation across disciplines.
Research Area E: Gender and Intersectionality focuses on how asymmetrical dependencies emerge at the intersections of gender, status, class, ethnicity, religion, and age. The question of gender asymmetries arises in connection with any kind of social dependency or power asymmetry, and we are convinced that gender and intersectionality perspectives bear the potential for challenging a whole series mainstream assumptions and grand narratives. Research within Research Area E will be conducted by PhD students, Postdoctoral researchers and senior academics. For a description of this research area, see https://www.dependency.uni-bonn.de/en/program/research-areas/research-a….
In order to plan the future of Research Area E we would like to discuss different approaches with young and early career researchers from the fields of anthropology, archaeology, history, literary studies, gender studies, and other related fields who have experience with or a profound interest in the topic of asymmetrical dependencies and gender and/or intersectionality. We also encourage all participants to reflect on the concept of dependency. (For a working definition used by the Cluster of Excellence, see https://www.dependency.uni-bonn.de/en/program/about.)
Contributions based on research from all over the world and all time periods are welcome, but the research must have a historical perspective. We welcome research on all periods and all regions, but we particularly encourage research on pre-modern and non-European societies. The invited scholar is expected to hold a max. 30 min. presentation.
Travel and accommodation costs will be covered by the University of Bonn.
Please send proposals with a short CV and summary (ca. 300 words) until 10 June to: ResearchAreaE@dependency.uni-bonn.de.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.