Gender (Studies) in Exile

Judit Takacs Discussion
Type: 
Call for Papers
Date: 
September 15, 2021
Location: 
Germany
Subject Fields: 
Human Rights, Nationalism History / Studies, Sexuality Studies, Social Sciences, Women's & Gender History / Studies

Intersections. East European Journal of Society and Politics (IEEJSP) invites original research papers for its special issue on “Gender (Studies) in Exile”.

Editors: Judit Takács (KWI Essen; Centre for Social Sciences); Achim Rohde (Academy in Exile, Freie Universität Berlin)

This thematic issue aims to bring together scholars with an interest in conducting gender studies research in challenging, or in some cases hostile, circumstances, especially in countries where gender studies as an academic discipline is being delegitimized by state authorities. We welcome papers that explore theoretically and/or empirically the strategies, narratives, and underlying motivations that fuel such campaigns against gender studies as well as their academic and social impact. We are equally interested in contributions that focus on responses and counter strategies developed by gender studies scholars and scholars in exile in general. We encourage the application of a broad understanding of exile, including external exile and various forms of inner exile such as a condition of voicelessness, and non-territorial exile at home.

We would like to propose an open list of research questions to be approached from an exiled point of view:  
•    How did the concept of gender become politically targeted by “anti-gender” campaigns in parts of Europe and globally?
•    To what degree does the current wave of anti-gender politics trigger a conceptual re-thinking of gender studies, e.g. with regard to a focus on cultural practices vis à vis one on regimes and material inequalities?
•    Can the analyses of different gender regimes be an eye-opener, and lead to questions about social change to decrease gender inequalities and a better understanding of social diversity in general, as it was claimed in the early 2000s?
•    Or should we approach gender as an apparatus of biopower, epitomizing a new mode of knowledge through which the sexual order can be newly deciphered and governed and as an “invisible hand” governing the sexual division of labour, population, and economy in the context of the neoliberal biopolitics of the EU’s gender equality policy?
•    How are gender studies being challenged and transformed by feminist and queer perspectives from the global south?
•    How can (exiled) gender studies be conceptually linked to inquiries into infringements of academic freedom & authoritarian policies of de-democratization?
•    To what degree can exilic perspectives contribute to methodological and conceptual innovation within gender studies?
•    What are gendered dimensions of exilic existence, and how does exile impact on gendered identities and life practices among individuals and groups?
•    How does inner exile impact research and life experiences of gender and sexuality scholars in hostile academic systems and political surroundings?

We encourage submissions from inter- and transdisciplinary fields related to gender studies and social sciences in general, and particularly from scholars who feel that the value of their scholarship is questioned, their academic freedom is threatened and/or those who are in forced or self-imposed absence from their home because of their academic involvement. Papers should combine novel empirical material with sound theory.

We invite scholars to submit an abstract of 600-800 words including a short bio (100 words) and the description of the main question(s) and finding(s) of the paper along with the methodology applied, by 15 September 2021 to both editors (e-mail: judit.takacs@kwi-nrw.de; achim.rohde@fu-berlin.de). Authors will receive feedback from the editorial team by 30 September 2021. The deadline for submitting final papers is 28 February 2022. The issue is scheduled for publication in the second half of 2022.

 

Contact Info: 

Judit Takács

KWI Essen, Germany; Centre for Social Sciences, Hungary

Contact Email: