REASSESS sponsored PhD Course on 'Social Policy, Life Course and Gender'

PhD Course on ‘Social Policy, Life Course and Gender’

21 – 25 September 2012, Oslo, Norway

Organizer and main lecturer: Prof. Gunhild Hagestad

In this course, we explore the interplay of social policy and the adult lives of men and women, in the context of Nordic, ageing societies.

The Nordic countries have been seen as vanguards in creating policies to ensure gender equality, especially with regard to support for working parents. Our part of Europe has also been presented as an example of "defamilization", in that care for the young and the old to quite an extent is defined as a public responsibility. In these discussions, age and generation have received limited attention. How homogenous are the Nordic countries with regard to population age/sex structures and life course structuring?

Using a comparative approach, we ask: What kinds of assumptions, explicit or implicit, about age, time and gender are at the foundation of social policies in different societies? What consequences, intended or unintended, do policies have in shaping the lives of men and women? What are theoretical and methodological approaches to studying the interface of lives and policy? What are key findings on the lives of men and women in different phases of adulthood?

Course Organization

The course starts with an overview of how Nordic countries have been viewed in recent debates over welfare regimes, with a special emphasis on family and gender. A second overview will present key assumptions and core concepts in a life course perspective. In part two, we turn to recent empirical evidence on "her and his adulthood". In the third and final part, students’ research will be discussed in the context of the course themes.

Each day will have two thematic sessions (morning and afternoon). The sessions will have an introductory overview of key issues and central literature, followed by discussion.

Lecturers

In addition to the coordinator, the following scholars will present: Professors Dominique Anxo (Linnaeus University, Sweden), Bjørn Hvinden (NOVA & the University of Tromsø, Norway), Chiara Saraceno (Collegio Carlo Alberto/University of Torino, Italy). A young researcher with expertise in life course methods will also participate (to be announced)

Practical details

Venue:

Kringler Hotel (http://kringler.no/) (15 min. drive from the Oslo Gardermoen Airport)

Costs:

The Nordic Centre of Excellence REASSESS (www.reassess.no) will cover the accommodation costs of participants. It is also possible to apply for travel support. 

Participants are required to submit a paper after the course. With an accepted paper the course participant will qualify for 10 credit points.

Applications

If you want to participate, send a brief CV and short statement of research interests to gohagestad@gmail.com by 1 August 2012, (with copy to bjorn.hvinden@nova.no). Those selected will be notified by 15 August 2012.

Please indicate if stipend covering travel expenses is needed.