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Welcome

Welcome to Margins to Centre 2025. 

 

The Margins to Centre Conference seeks to amplify the voices of marginalised communities. At our 2025 conference, we will explore the theme of Belonging -celebrating the literature, art, and histories that too often remain unheard. Join us as we engage with discussions on identity, inclusion, and the diverse narratives shaping our world.

 

The conference will take place on April 24th, 2025, at the Berrick Saul Building, University of York, from 12.30pm to 6pm

Belonging

The theme of belonging examines how individuals and communities have navigated inclusion and exclusion within societal structures. Historically, belonging has been central to the formation of nations, identities, and power dynamics, often shaped by citizenship, culture and social hierarchies. 

For example, marginalised and colonised groups have been affected by a disrupted sense of belonging, while nationalist movements have redefined belonging through ethnic or cultural homogeneity. The civil rights, women's rights, and LGBTQ+ movements have also challenged exclusion and redefined who belongs. 

The theme is purposely very broad to allow for diverse perspectives.

Our themes

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1

Marginalisation and Power: Dynamics of Exclusion and Resistance 

Examine how marginalised groups navigate systems of power that seek to silence, oppress, or render them invisible. How do histories of exclusion shape contemporary identities and social movements? What forms of resistance, both subtle and overt, challenge these power dynamics?

2

Gender and Identity in Historical Perspectives

Gender and identity are very personal but are also impacted by deep social constructs that influence and are influenced by how individuals and groups are recognised, accepted, or marginalised within various cultural, political, and social contexts. By tracing the evolution of gender roles and identities, we can better understand the complex dynamics of inclusion and exclusion that have defined experiences of belonging.

3

Colonialism and the Construction of the 'Other'

Engage with how colonial powers created and reinforcement exploitation and marginalisation, and how colonised peoples responded to, resisted, or navigated these imposed identities. What are the long-lasting effects of these constructions on contemporary issues of race, identity, and power?

4

Reassessing marginalised and underutilised sources

Explore the rich potential of overlooked and underutilised sources that have often been marginalised in traditional research. The theme invites you to reconsider archival material, oral histories, neglected texts, and unconventional data that offer fresh perspectives and insights. 

Order of the day...

24th April
12:30 - 18:00
 

Each segment will include a panel discussion with the opportunity for audience questions. If you are planning to attend only specific segments, we kindly ask that you arrive and leave during the scheduled breaks to minimise disruption.

12:30   Welcome 

12:40   Gender and Identity in Historical Perspectives

14:00   Break

14:10    Marginalisation and Power

15:00   Break (with food and drinks)

15:20   Hifsa Haroon-Iqbal 

16:00   Reassessing Marginalised and Underutilised Resources

16:50   Break

17:00   Colonialism and the Construction of 'the Other'

Speakers

We’re excited to welcome speakers from a wide range of fields and backgrounds to our 2025 conference.
From history and politics to undergraduate research and beyond, our lineup reflects the diversity of thought and experience that defines this event. With topics spanning numerous disciplines, we look forward to introducing the voices that will shape this year’s conversations.

Stella Kindred

English Anchorites and their Communities in the High Middle Ages
The Norman Conquest of 1066 created discontinuities between the social and religious worlds of medieval England. These discontinuities resulted in ‘gaps’ within the structures of local communities, which allowed religious figures, such as anchorites, to exercise localised power as they represented a familiar and effective source of stability during a period of transformation. My discussion will focus primarily on the gendered dimensions of anchoritism, exploring how female anchorites were viewed contemporarily and their networks of communication within this period.

Eloise Gibson and Libby Foxwell

A Western Phenomenon?: A Study of Witchcraft in Colonial Africa
 
The term ‘witchcraft’ often evokes images of medieval or early modern witch trials, however, its manifestations extend far beyond Western early modern history. Despite imperial efforts to impose Christian ideology, African traditions of magic and sorcery remained an integral aspect of native cultures. African witchcraft is under-studied due to its position outside of typical histories of witchcraft. By highlighting marginalised stories and addressing prevailing misconceptions, we endeavour to centralise African witchcraft and its place in colonial history.

Hollie Tilling

“To thee I write…”: Uncovering Textual Interactions between the querelle des femmes and Early Modern Female-Authored Heroidean Complaint
Ovid’s ‘Heroides’ provides classical heroines with a problematic, faux-authentic voice which has been manipulated and regurgitated by male translators to fit a specific purpose, especially when concerning debates about the nature of women. Little notice has been given to how female-authored iterations may employ the same tactics to assert an alternative view. This work aims to uncover the potential of Heroidean female-voiced complaint poetry as a mode for early modern female writers to subvert prominent gender ideologies and contribute to the querelle des femmes.

We are proudly supported by...

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On behalf of the Margins to Centre Organising Committee, we extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who spoke, contributed, attended, and helped make this conference a reality. It was an incredible experience to host, and it has provided a truly meaningful platform for marginalised voices.

We are especially grateful to our sponsors, Past & Present and the Women's Classical Committee UK - this event would not have been possible without their generous support. We also thank the University of York's History Department and all of our amazing contributors.
It's been a remarkable experience, and we're so excited to share more soon - photos and videos from the conference will be released shortly!

Many thanks,

The Margins to Centre Organising Committee 2025
Maisie, Kasey, Deepthi, Kate, Penny, Stella, Jack, Sam and Niamh

Contact Us

Address

Berrick Saul Building, Harewood Way, University of York, Heslington, York

YO10 5DD

Contact

  • Instagram

@marginstocentre

Conference times

April 24th 

12.30pm - 6pm

Tickets

To register your attendance please get your FREE ticket from the link below.

Let’s Work Together

Thanks for submitting!

Heslington, York YO10 5DD, UK

©2019 by From Margins to Centre? An undergraduate conference on marginalised histories.

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