Gender studies and activism 2022: (re-/de-/?-) institutionalization in changing realities

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: the Central Campus of Vilnius University (Universiteto Str. 3, 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

International Conference “Gender Studies and Research in 2019: Centenary Achievements and Perspectives”

November 21–23, 2019

The Gender Studies Centre at the Faculty of Communication of Vilnius University is organizing an international conference to commemorate the 100 years anniversary of women’s right to vote in Lithuania and many other countries. We seek to bring together scientists, researchers and activists of all genders who work in various branches of gender studies in educational, scientific, policy making and many other institutions to proclaim and publicly reflect centenary achievements and challenges in women’s, men’s and others’ lives and gender studies in general from theoretical, empirical and practical perspectives on national, regional, European and even global levels.

Gender studies have already entrenched as an immense research field encompassing women and feminism, men and masculinity as well as queer studies, studies on gender equality, equal rights and social movements, placement of gender in intersectional and diverse contexts, etc. Covering all – micro, meso, macro – levels of analysis, gender studies provide new knowledge and serve as a powerful engine for social, political, and economic improvements. However, institutionalization of gender studies and achievements in the field significantly vary by country. Therefore, the conference is aimed at:

  1. Sharing the most up-to-date results in the field of gender studies and research as well as discussing ideas, challenges and potential resolutions in the field;
  2. Strengthening cooperation between gender researchers, activists and other interested parties on the institutional and international levels;
  3. Encouraging public discussions on current gender-related topics and striving to initiate resolution of the most significant (e.g., gender-based violence, discrimination, etc.) problems.

The conference will cover a number of gender-related fields, including but not limited to:

  • feminist studies, feminist methodologies and epistemologies;
  • studies of men and masculinity;
  • queer and LGBT+ studies;
  • gender and sexuality;
  • educational methodologies and geographical specifics of gender studies;
  • gender equality, social movements and women’s, men’s, and LGBT+ rights;
  • women’s history, gender in sociohistorical contexts;
  • gender in social institutions: education, family, sciences, law, economics, medicine, media, arts etc.;
  • gender at work;
  • gender and literature studies;
  • sociolinguistic studies of gender;
  • gender and communication;
  • gender and legislation, gender-based violence;
  • the interplay of gender and other social categories: gender and race, disability, age, education etc.;
  • gender and macro-level social processes: democracy, ecology, migration, etc.;
  • gender and law;
  • gender and health.

Presentations on other relevant issues surrounding gender topics are more than welcome.


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

For more details see Publication of conference papers.


Conference languages: English and Lithuanian.

Important dates:

  • April 25, 2019: Abstract submission
  • May 2, 2019:  Notification of accepted abstracts and invitations to take part in the conference are sent
  • June 2, 2019: Registration to the conference
  • September 11, 2019: Conference preliminary programme will be announced
  • October 10, 2019: Final programme will be announced

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