November 24, 2022

Institutionalisation of gender studies in Lithuania began in 1992 with the establishment of the Centre for Women’s Studies at Vilnius University, renamed as Centre for Gender Studies in 2002. Thus, this year we are celebrating 30th anniversary of gender studies at Vilnius University and Lithuania in general. On this occasion the Centre for Gender Studies will be holding an international conference titled “Gender Studies and Activism 2022: (re-/de-/?-) Institutionalisation in Changing Realities”.

Situation of gender studies in Lithuania remains uncertain: gender-related topics are addressed by single researchers or research groups only; there are no Lithuanian educational institutions offering study programmes in gender studies; the new official list of fields of study valid since 2017 does not include gender studies.

Therefore, the aim of this conference is to bring together researchers working in gender studies and to discuss the situation of gender studies in Lithuania, as well as in other Eastern, Southern, Western and Northern European countries and their research communities. In what extent are gender studies institutionalised in these countries? What trends of de-institutionalisation are observed? Is there a need, if yes, what are the possibilities to re-institutionalise gender studies? These are the main questions pointing to the possible directions of conference discussions, which, we hope, will help to think about political, economic, cultural and other factors affecting the degree of institutionalisation of interdisciplinary gender studies; to evaluate the importance of gender studies for the development of research, (higher) education, innovation, and evolution of the whole society; to reflect on the role of gender studies experts in the spheres of research, (higher) education, innovation, and the wider society; as well as other issues.

We invite to share your research results and insights on institutionalisation of gender studies and related gender research topics by giving an oral presentation or presenting a poster in the conference.

Conference venue:VU Library Scholarly Communication and Information centre (SCIC)
Saulėtekio av. 5, Vilnius

Important dates:

October 20, 2022: Abstract submission

October 23, 2022:  Notification of accepted abstracts and invitations to take part in the conference are sent

Registration to the conference

November 6: the conference programme will be announced

Conference fee: 100 € participation with an oral / poster presentation. The conference fee will cover the conference package, participation in plenary session and thematic sections, coffee breaks, lunch and the conference dinner.

One person can present maximum 2 individual / co-authored presentations at the conference.

The conference will be held in a hybrid way. For those participating in the conference remotely, the participation fee is 50 euros. This fee will be used to rent remote technology equipment for the conference.

The participants will have an opportunity to submit their articles for the conference journal:

If you wish to organize a special session on a particular topic, a project meeting or another sub-event in scope of the conference, please, contact the conference organizers at genderconference@kf.vu.lt and we will do our best to help you.

All inquiries can be sent to: genderconference@kf.vu.lt