Call for papers 15 April 2008

International conference 12-14 November 2008 in Umeå, Sweden

The conference aims to survey, present and initiate research about politically active women 1500-1900.

The theme include research in politically active women before the breakthrough of political democracy. The concept includes women who acted in order to influence the exercising of power and/or participated in establishing political power groups.

The former action may cower women who voted in local, regional or national elections or attempted to influence those holding political power through petitions, conversations or bribery. The latter may include the salonnières of the Enlightenment, female patrons or women who were part of the informal power structures of local society. Women acting politiaclly are of interest regardless of which social category (peasantry, bourgeoisie, nobility or other) they belonged to.