Idaho State University Art of Gender Conference keynote ‘Unadulterated History of Marriage’ set March 9

Idaho State University's Anderson Gender Resource Center will welcome Stephanie Coontz who will deliver the keynote address "The Unadulterated History of Marriage" at the ninth annual Art of Gender in Everyday Life Conference on March 9.

Coontz will make her presentation at 7 p.m. in the Pond Student Union Salmon River Suite. Her lecture will provide historical information on the institution of marriage. She contends that marriage has changed more in the past 35 years than the previous 3,500 years.

The keynote speaker argues that marriage has become fairer and more fulfilling than in the past, but simultaneously more optional and fragile. In this history of marriage from the Stone Age to the Internet Age, she presents the backstory behind great love affairs of the ages such as Anthony and Cleopatra, the two most long-standing martial traditions in the world and the one surprising constant in every marriage system researchers have studied. She'll attempt to review what's new in love, marriage and sexual behavior, and what is not. 

Coontz's books will be available for purchase and signing. This talk is sponsored by the National Women’s Studies Association, the Anderson Gender Resource Center and the ISU Women's History Month Committee.

This year's Art of Gender Conference will present a combination of local faculty and student presenters as well as guests from throughout the country, including Utah-based poet V. Wetlaufer and Elizabeth Simon Ruchti from West Chester University in Pennsylvania.

The Art of Gender in Everyday Life Conference focuses on how ideas and stereotypes concerning gender and gender roles shape and influence various aspects of our daily lives. The three-day conference hosts speakers, poster sessions, workshops and the popular short film festival LUNAFEST. All events are free and open to the public. Coontz's presentation will conclude the conference.

For questions or more information about this or other conference events, contact the Anderson Center at 208-282-2805 or visit www.isu.edu/andersoncenter for a full conference schedule.

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