April 24, 2009 | News

Workshop announcement + Call for papers:
Understanding European living arrangements: perspectives from anthropological demography

18-19 December 2009
London School of Economics

Living arrangements in Europe are increasingly complex and diverse: from living apart together (LAT) couples, to multi-generational households, to adult children co-resident with their parents. The ways in which people organise their living arrangements are both cause and consequence of social change. Trends and processes in living arrangements do not operate in a vacuum from other processes of social change. There are complex inter-relationships between living arrangements and other major life course transitions such as (un)employment, education and geographic mobility. This workshop calls for papers that deal, broadly, with one or more of these questions:

1. What are the types of, and changes in, living arrangements?
2. What causes living arrangement changes and variations?
3. What are the diverse meanings associated with living arrangements for individuals to the wider society?
4. How are the experiences and meanings of different living arrangements changing over time?
5. How can anthropological demography improve our understanding of European living arrangements?

Theoretical, substantive and methodological contributions to this workshop are welcomed. The workshop is an opportunity for specialists from different disciplines and countries to examine emergent themes in living arrangements across Europe. Junior researchers are encouraged to apply.

Coordination: This event is being coordinated by the Working Group on European Anthropological Demography. Coordinators: Dr Ernestina Coast (LSE), Dr Katerina Georgiadis (LSE), Dr Laura Bernardi (MPIDR), Dr Sara Randall (UCL).

To attend: This workshop is open to all, and there is no charge. However, preregistration is required (socpol.livingarrangements@lse.ac.uk) to pre-register. Early registration is recommended. Participants will be responsible for their own travel and accommodation costs. Lunch will be provided on both days.

To present a paper: Send a structured abstract (including: title, aims, data and methods, results, conclusions) (max. 2 pages) to socpol.livingarrangements@lse.ac.uk by Friday 3^rd July. Original papers presented at the seminar will be considered for a special journal issue, to be edited by the organisers. Further funding is being sought towards the travel costs of presenters.