Dottir Press
How Old is Too Old?
Narratives about Becoming a Parent after 40
Co-editors: Vicki Breitbart and Nan Bauer-Maglin
We are seeking personal narratives that explore the realities of becoming and being a parent after the age of 40. There are many reasons why people are getting pregnant later or adopting children when they are over 40. With new definitions of marriage and family and an increase in reproductive technologies becoming a parent is a possibility for many more individuals over 40. While this group of parents is a growing phenomenon, the stigma against becoming a parent over 40, still exists.
We are looking for a range of proposals with topics that challenge the notions about who should become a parent and at what time in our lives. This book will be a collection of narratives written by those who have lived the experience. Their stories will highlight how the issue of age affects our opportunities to parent; some will add the discrimination felt due to race, class and sexual orientation to an already difficult situation. The stories will challenge gender roles, will confront the U.S. culture’s concepts about aging and the inequities about health care and opportunities for successful parenting.
All the narratives will be based on the life experiences of people who have faced some aspect of becoming an older parent, raising a child as an older parent, being in a relationship with a partner beginning parenting over 40, being raised by an older parent, or providing health care or services to people who want to be parents later in life.
We are interested in a variety of genres and approaches (dialogues, interviews, memoir, poetry, for example) and tones (serious to comic). They should be written in an accessible voice. We are committed to using gender-inclusive language in this collection by using words such as pregnant “person” or “older parent” when appropriate.
Please send us both a one-to-two-page description of what you are interested in writing by January 15. Include a few sentences about your previous writings and/or work. Please forward this call to friends and colleagues.
Vicki Breitbart vbreitbart@gmail.com Nan Bauer-Maglin nan.bauermaglin99@ret.gc.cuny.edu