What's 'new' about matrescence?

As a species, we have been reproducing and caring for infants for many thousands of years. But our frameworks for understandings the processes involved are constantly changing. Although first coined by anthropologist Dana Raphael in the 1970s, a concept currently graining traction across interdisciplinary, academic, and non-academic spaces is "matrescence". Matrescence considers the process of becoming a mother as a mix of biological, social, and existential transformations. Through a roundtable format, our discussants will explore what the concept might offer us in our academic work and beyond and what (if anything) is "new" about it.

We are delighted to be hosting our guest Dr Pragya Agarwal, who will chair this event. Dr Agarwal is the author of four widely acclaimed non-fiction books including Sway (which was Guardian 'Book of the Week' and NYPL ‘Book of the Day’), Hysterical and (M)otherhood that were nominated as best smart thinking and popular science books of the year. She also works as a consultant and speaker with organisations around the world, including universities, corporate and non-profits, and schools, delivering talks and workshops on bias, anti-racism, social inclusion, power and privilege.

To open the event, Dr Emily Tupper will introduce the concept of matrescence and the work of the matrescence network; a year (and a bit) long project funded by Durham's Institute of Advanced Study via the Interdisciplinary Researcher Development Project award and the Flourish@Durham initiative. Our roundtable of discussants will then explore how their respective work engages with themes of motherhood and transformation and reflect on future directions of the concept for research and practice. We invite everyone to stay for drinks, snacks, and discussion following the event.

This hybrid event is free to attend; the Zoom link will be circulated closer to the date.

This roundtable is co-hosted by The Moving Bodies Lab of the Discovery Research Platform for Medical Humanities and Durham University's Institute of Advanced Study.