Call for Papers: Historical Perspectives on Women and Food

West of England and South Wales Women’s History Network 32nd Annual Conference Historical Perspectives on Women and Food – CALL FOR PAPERS

Keynote Speaker: Polly Russell, Food historian and curator at the British Library

This one-day conference will focus on women’s contribution to all aspects of food production and consumption in both material and cultural forms. Themes could include but are not limited to:

• Women as consumers and sellers of food
• Food production and preparation – agricultural, domestic, commercial and industrial
• Food and gendered education in schools and colleges
• Food marketing, businesses and advertising
• Food service both in the home and in commercial outlets e.g. restaurants, hotels, bars
• Food campaigns e.g. bread riots, wartime food rationing
• Food cultures, traditions and inheritance
• Food writing including memoirs, etiquette and recipe books
• Food and celebrity culture
• Food and the arts – e.g., in painting, film, drama and TV
• Food and famine

We welcome presentations in a range of formats including illustrated short papers/talks, posters, films, panels of speakers on a specific theme, food research projects and work in progress. All contributions must have a historical focus.

Please send a short summary of your proposed contribution (150 – 200 words) to Jane Howells: howellsjane2148@gmail.com by the 24th May 2025

For information on previous conferences please visit http://weswwomenshistorynetwork.co.uk