Call For Papers for Italian Ecofeminism and Literature
Deadline for Submissions: August 1, 2026
Notification date: September 1, 2026
Full name / Name of organization: Nicole C. (Civitano) Dittmer, PhD
Contact email: ncdittmer@gmail.com

In 1974, Françoise d’Eaubonne coined the term ecofeminism in Le féminisme ou la mort, foregrounding the intertwined domination of women and nature. Since then, ecofeminism has evolved from a grassroots political movement into a profound literary and theoretical framework. In the Italian context, this evolution is uniquely reflected in a rich tradition of narrative, poetry, and Material Ecocriticism that explores the porous boundaries between the human body, the Italian landscape, and non-human agency.

This edited collection seeks to map this intersection by inviting original essays that examine how Italian literature serves as a generative site for ecofeminist thought. From the pastoral landscapes of the early 19th century to contemporary eco-noir and posthumanist poetry, this volume will analyze how Italian writers have imagined — and continue to imagine — emancipatory, multispecies futures.

This anthology focuses on the literary representation of ecofeminist concerns within the Italian canon and contemporary writing. Exploring works from Italian authors and ecofeminists, we seek contributions that bridge the gap between theoretical frameworks — such as Silvia Federici’s analysis of the "caliban" and the enclosure of the body — and the narrative agency found in Italian prose and verse. The collection aims to demonstrate that Italian literature is not merely a reflection of environmental crisis, but an active participant in the "Italian Thought" tradition that challenges patriarchal and anthropocentric hierarchies. By focusing on the storied matter of the Italian peninsula, contributors will explore how texts promote ethical responsibility toward the Mediterranean ecosystem and foster new paradigms of care.

We invite proposals that provide comprehensive overviews of specific authors or thematic developments in Italian ecofeminist literature. Submissions focusing on the following are particularly welcome:

Pioneers of the Environmental Imagination
Materialist & Autonomist Frameworks
Contemporary Narrative & Eco-Noir
Posthumanism and Theory
Poetics of the Mediterranean
Gendered Landscapes, the Environment, and the Female Body
The Commons and Social Reproduction Theory
“Creaturely Poetics of Otherness”
Ecofeminist Science Fiction and Intersectionality
Ecofeminism and the Gothic in Italian Literature
Ecofeminist readings of Grazia Deledda, Anna Maria Ortese, and Sibilla Aleramo
The work of Elena Ferrante, Laura Pugno, and Simona Vinci
The influence of Rosi Braidotti and Serenella Iovino (Material Ecocriticism) on modern Italian storytelling and interspecies ethics.
Ecofeminist perspectives on Italian poetry, from Antonia Pozzi to contemporary voices exploring the "blue humanities."

While we encourage the application of global theoretical frameworks, this collection is strictly dedicated to the analysis of Italian primary texts. Submissions must focus exclusively on authors within the Italian literary canon or contemporary Italian voices; comparative studies involving non-Italian authors will not be considered for this volume.

Interested authors should submit a 300-word abstract that articulates a clear and compelling thesis which highlights the purpose and contribution of the proposed chapter. Submissions should also include a 200-word contributor biography, a list of keywords, and five key references/citations. Materials should be sent by August 1, 2026 to Nicole C. Dittmer at ncdittmer@gmail.com. Authors will be notified of acceptance decisions by September 1, 2026.

All contributors must have completed a PhD or equivalent. Only previously unpublished work will be considered. This CFP welcomes contributions from a wide range of scholarly disciplines in the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and other professional fields.