Hello everyone,

Please allow me to introduce myself.  My name is Margarita M. Birriel Salcedo and I am a member of the Institute of Women’s Studies at Granada University, of ATGENDER and  one of the founders of AOIFE and ATHENA, representing my University.  I am addressing you all today to propose the setting up of a research team for the next meeting of the 7th Framework Programme.  The title of this project will be Houses, Homes and Households.

My aim is not to propose a closed project, but quite the opposite.  My work is based on the experience obtained in working on a Research Project in Spain, with the aim of making a feminist interpretation of architecture in Andalusia. This title will serve as a framework for allowing us to examine architectural forms or the design of cities, and analyse interiors, the presence of women in trades linked to construction, or feminine patronage (which has been more important than one might imagine) through different fields of study (history of art, archaeology, modern history, Arabic-Islamic studies, anthropology and architecture) over the ages. It was quite complicated to set up the project, which involved 12 people from completely different backgrounds.  This led us to organise theoretic debates about problems regarding which we were not in agreement.  It includes a seminar (to be organised in November) about the separation of the public and the private spheres, their historical importance, feminist criticism, the meaning of house and household, etc., and the refining of our work structure, objectives and schedule.  But we are working and challenging conservative interpretations of Spanish history.

As I already mentioned before, this is not a closed project, and, with the backing of the Spanish team, I invite all those interested in discussing the options to put forward a proposal for  the 7 research framework programme and define its structure and objectives. I, for my part, have my own idea, based on my interests, but I am open to suggestions and in particular, I am interested in an interdisciplinary project in which history plays a part.  In addition, it will be necessary to evaluate the spatial diversity in terms of north/south and east/west.  Once we know how many of us there are and based on the numerical, geographic and academic profile of those who wish to take part, we can present our proposal when the time comes.  In all cases, it is open to all disciplines.  It is likely that the coordination of small local/national groups will make the project easier to organise, but I don’t want anyone to be left out as a result of not forming part of a team.

Anyone who is interested should send me an e-mail with a brief Curriculum and a small text explaining which aspects of this project they find interesting, no later than 30 June 2011.

e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Thank you for your attention