Mothers Without Their Children Conference at York U. to examine mother-child separation through incarceration, adoption, maternal loss, custody

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TORONTO, May 3, 2001 -- On the occasion of Mother’s Day, York University’s Association for Research on Mothering (ARM) is hosting a Conference entitled Mothers Without Their Children to be held at York University, Saturday, May 5.

The conference will bring together leading researchers from across Canada, Australia and the United States who will examine mother-child separation issues including: incarceration, adoption, maternal loss due to death, miscarriage or involuntary childlessness, and mothers who live apart from their children.

Among the conference papers and presentations:

  • "The Demonization of Women Suspected of Using Illegal Drugs", Susan Boyd, (Saint Mary's University)
  • "Forced Maternal Separation? Issues Addressing Mothers Behind Bars", Jacqueline Gibbons (York University)
  • "Mothers Who Have Lost Their Children to Adoption in Canada from the Nineteenth Century to the Present", Karen Lynn (President, Canadian Council of Birthmothers)
  • "Birth Mother-Death Mother", Deborah Whatley Davidson (York University)
  • "Loving From a Distance", Julie Thacker (University of Northern British Columbia)
  • "Journeys of Women Without Custody: From Ambivalence to a Renewed Sense of Self", Annette Pagano (Rivier College)

The Centre for Research on Mothering at York University houses the Association for Research on Mothering and the Journal of the Association for Research on Mothering. The Centre's mandate is to promote feminist maternal scholarship by building and sustaining a community of academic and grassroots researchers interested in the topic of mothering-motherhood.

The conference will be held from 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. (Registration opens 8 a.m.), in Room 305, Founders College, York University Campus, 4700 Keele Street.

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For the full conference agenda or more information, visit: http://www.yorku.ca/crm, or contact:

Prof. Andrea O'Reilly
York Association for Research on Mothering
York University
(416) 736-2100, ext. 60366
arm@yorku.ca

Ken Turriff
Media Relations
York University
(416) 736-2100, ext. 22086
kturriff@yorku.ca
YU/059/01