15 -18 December 2022, LOVA is having its 2nd Winter School on motherhoods and feminisms. The four-day event is organised by Irene Arends (UvA), Emmy De Wit (VU), and Joke Struyf (University of Antwerp). Intended for an international audience, the nineteen participants originated from the Netherlands and also from countries like Serbia, Mexico, Germany, Denmark, Venezuela, India, Japan, the USA, and more. Two of them brought their children to some of the lectures, which was embraced by the other participants. We were warmly welcomed at the location IIRE and went every day for a healthy and copious lunch at the nearby café Chantilly. The schedule was executed largely according to plan although some speakers had to join us online instead of live due to illness and train issues. The experience with hybrid lectures during the previous Winter School helped to ensure that these lectures were almost as interactive as the live ones. Amongst the speakers were LOVA members Tine Davids and Catrien Notermans; Canadian Cree ethicist Kathy Walker; Rodante van der Waal and Noëmi Willemen of the Critical Midwifery Studies Collective; Belgium researchers Amal Miri and Michiel De Proost; and independent scholar Cynthia Dorrestijn. The speakers covered topics such as matricentric feminism; intensive motherhood; the politicization of motherhood; migrant mothers; anti-racist parenting; indigenous ethics of care; the postpartum period; social egg freezing; revolutionary mothering; non-human motherhoods and the pregnant post-human. In addition, Juel McNeilly facilitated a movement workshop that touched the participants in many ways.
On the first day, during our “unconference”, there is a session in which the body and movement stand central in exploring certain questions and knowledges.
Tine Davids speaking on the politicization of motherhood “between tradition and resistance” on the second day of the Winter School.
Enjoying vegetarian lunches at nearby café Chantilly.
On this “inspiration wall” everyone could add poetry, books, paintings, memes, films, or any other creative expressions that are considered inspiring.
And there was also time for evening fun. Here some people of the group gathered to enjoy the Amsterdam Light festival.
All participants and speakers received a chocolate bar wrapped with the Winter School poster design as a thank you.