Men and Reproduction - A Call for Conference Abstracts

Internationally, many societies are experiencing a cultural transformation in the role of fathers, and an increased expectation of men’s involvement in family life - from reproductive planning to equal parenting.  This momentum is being 'pushed’ by government policies which are based on the perceived economic, health and well-being benefits of fathers’ involvement in children’s lives.  In academic research, the application of Critical Studies of Men and Masculinities to the sociology of human reproduction also provides an impetus for the conceptualisation of reproduction in inter-relational terms - rather than as ‘women’s difficulty’.  The Second ISA Forum of Sociology (which will be held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, from 1st - 4th August 2012) is calling for papers which will critically explore men’s involvement within the reproduction / parenting arena.  Abstracts are invited for papers which might focus upon, for example: fertility / infertility; pregnancy and abortion; adoption; childbirth preparation; experiences of pre-natal ultrasounds; assisted reproductive technologies; miscarriage; gay men’s desire to have a child; HIV and reproduction; sperm donors; the politics of reproduction ...   Abstracts must be submitted via the ISA website (www.isa-sociology.org/buenos-aires-2012) by 15th December 2011.  For more information, contact Maria Lohan, Queen’s University Belfast, at Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.