The conference “Motherhood: Reclaiming Our Past, Transforming Our Future” has just gotten under way at University of Denver Sturm College of Law.
Dean Martin Katz (Denver) gave a blissfully short welcome, followed by Professor Judy Walsh (University of Dublin School of Law & UCD School of Social Justice).
University of Dublin School of Law & UCD School of Social Justice is a co-sponsor of the conference, together with Whittier Law School, the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, Whittier Law School, the DU Gender and Women’s Studies Program and the Colorado Women’s Bar Association.
Dean Penelope Bryan (Whittier) included in her welcoming remarks thoughts on her conversations with Professor Kristian Miccio (Denver) about the failure of liberal theory and formal equality to capture the experience of mothers in the domestic violence context.
Now, Professor Kris Miccio is making opening remarks. Thanks to staff and others who have made the event possible. She is describing a conversation in which her 90-something year-old asked, “What could you possibly talk about over a day and a half about motherhood?” Professor Miccio refers to some of the accomplishments of second-wave feminism: women telling about their own experiences of being a mother; women deconstructing motherhood as an institution; remembering the activism of women who have come before us. Professor Miccio calls for a commitment to the social, cultural and political act of “mothering” — to construct alliances across boundaries of race, class and sexual orientation.
Next up is a keynote address by independent scholar Dr. Rickie Solinger.
The conference program is available here.
-Bridget Crawford
