seXUALITIEs
IN TRANSITION
International Social Science Conference, Dubrovnik, Croatia,
June 12-16, 2001

 
            During the last ten years there has been a growing interest in the so-called transition studies. Political, economic and sociocultural aspects of the postcommunist transition have been analyzed from various social science perspectives - a vast enterprise that resulted in numerous conferences, scholarly books and new academic journals. Nevertheless, one important dimension of this great transformation in Central and East Europe is clearly missing: the study of human sexuality. Due to the absence of studies on the new intimate realities (i.e. the changes caused by rapid economic and social transformation) we can only speculate on the emerging (anti)sexual overtones in current public discourse in the new democracies.


            The Sexualities in Transition conference aims to fill this gap in the current knowledge and understanding of the effects of the profound social changes that are still taking place in Central and East Europe. It will address an important question of whether sexualities, aside from reflecting the new societal reality, can also generate social tolerance and social capital necessary for a well-rooted democracy. A book consisting of selected conference proceedings, to be published following the conference, will provide the first theoretical and empirical body of work that explores various aspects of human sexuality in (post)transitional countries. Finally, the SIT conference hopes to establish a wider sex research network by bringing together experts from Central and Eastern Europe, EU and the US.
 
 

Organizing committee

Dr. Aleksandar Stulhofer, Department of Sociology, University of Zagreb; dr. Jim Elias, Department of Sociology, California State University Northridge; dr. Veronica Diehl Elias, Department of Sociology, California State University Northridge; dr. Theo Sandfort, Netherlands Institute for Sociosexual Research, Utrecht; dr. John Bancroft,The Kinsey Institute, Bloomington (IN); dr. Erwin Haeberle,Archive of Sexology - Robert Koch Institut, Berlin; dr. Vern Bullough, CSUN and SUNY Distinguished Professor Emeritus

Conference topics

1. Post-communist sexual politics: Toward neotraditional moralities?
        (New political influences on intimate realities in the postcommunist societies between liberal democratic claims and neo-traditional practices; nationalistic population growth agendas and motherhood promotion campaigns·)

2. Sexuality research in transitional countries: Tradition and new winds
        (Methodological, as well as social and sociohistorical issues concerning area-related sex research...)

3. Gender roles and sex norms in transition
        (Transformation of gender roles in everyday life; increasing or decreasing gender equality; feminist movement in the Central and East Europe after 1989; sexual norms and values in transition; changing images of femininity and masculinity; body politics and the quest for intimate expression...)

4. Sexual representations in the postcommunist media
        (From sensationalism and sex-marketing to internal and external censorship; the questions of gender equality, sexual harassment and abuse, sexual minoritiesâ rights·)

5. Aporiae of sex education: New solutions for new health risks?
(New epidemiological concerns in Central and Eastern Europe and related prevention programs and policies; the dynamics of adolescent sexual risk-taking...)

6. Sexual minorities: New social movements and the old homophobia
        (Lesbian and gay movements in the new democracies; sexual citizenship and the process of legitimizing intimate choices; right-wing subculture and gay bashing...)

7. Toward new sexual lifestyles: Patterns of adult sexual behavior
        (Behavioral research on adult sexuality; crosscultural comparisons; sexuality and social class - the impact of new social structure·)

8. Commercial sex in transitional countries
        (The law and other regulatory practices; the rights and protection of sex workers; dominant attitudes and public opinion in regards to sexual markets; emerging adult entertainment industry; the problem of forced prostitution and its international ramification·)

9. Lessons from crosscultural research

      (Empirical studies that compare sexualities in transitional societies with the situation in other countries)

General outline

 
The conference will be held at the Inter University Centre (IUC; www.hr/iuc/iuc-home.html), Dubrovnik, Croatia. Founded in 1972, IUC is an independent center for advanced studies governed by an international board of directors. Located some 200 meters from the entrance of the famous medieval town (www.hr/dubrovnik/Dubr.html), IUC hosts over 100 international conferences and courses per year. Dubrovnik has an international airport (approx. 25 km from the town), and seasonal (May to September) ferryboat connections to Italy.

Format

The working schedule will be two sessions (morning and afternoon) per day for four days, with an additional day reserved for an excursion and the final round table discussion. Presentations will be limited to 20 minutes.

Contacts

Colleagues interested in participation should email the organizers at: SITconference@yahoo.comor send a fax: +1 818 677 2059 (Center for Sex Research, CSUN, USA)

Deadlines & Registration

Abstract (up to 250 words) - November 1, 2000; completed paper (diskette or an e-mail attachment) - March 1, 2001. Registration fee: US$ 70 if paid through January 15, 2001 ($100 if paid after January 15, 2001); students $20. Certain number of grants will be available for the scholars from Central and Eastern Europe.

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