(Post-)Graduate Support at its Best!

Analyzing Gender Differences, Gender Orders and Gender Relations in the Light of Current Challenges

Research Focus

Gender differences, gender orders, gender regimes and gender relations are highly contested and subject to far-reaching processes of change all over the world. However, these processes are marked by ambivalences and contradictions. On the one hand, the erosion of traditional gender orders and interrelated gender differences on which they are based has become a broadly acknowledged fact. On the other hand, backlash movements rejecting these developments by advocating the retraditionalization of gender orders have emerged. In addition, globalization and transnationalization have crucial effects on gender orders and gender regimes at multiple levels; they have led to the appearance of a variety of forces and structures which shape gender relations in the 21st century. The GRADE Centre Gender aims to combine theoretical and empirical inquiry into a wide range of gender issues in the light of these current challenges. Its activities and workshops facilitate the examination of gender differences, gender orders, gender regimes and gender relations and allow in-depth insights into diversified patterns of gendered social and cultural change.

Research includes historical and local topics as well as international comparative, transnational and decolonizing perspectives; it covers core research areas in Gender Studies today, like: Feminist Theory, Queer Theory, Sexuality Studies, Men’s and Masculinity Studies, Intersectionality/Diversity Studies, Gender Justice and Equality, Transnational Migration and Social Movements, Care, Critical Media Studies, and Transdisciplinary Methodologies and Feminist Critiques of Science. The program foregrounds the investigation of gender in its intersection with other significant social categories such as race, nationalism, ethnicity, class, age and sexuality. Presently, the following disciplines are represented within GRADE Gender: Education, Film Studies, Human Geography, Jewish Studies, Korean Studies, Law, Media Studies, Political Science, Sociology, Theatre Studies, and Visual Culture. GRADE Gender is open to further collaboration.

Objective

The interdisciplinary GRADE Centre Gender encourages and supports PhD and Post-Doc candidates in developing viable and significant research questions based on the current state of research. The Centre offers a forum for early-stage researchers in the field of Gender Studies to effectively support target-oriented research projects meeting highest international standards. At the same time candidates get the necessary backing to complete their dissertation respectively habilitation in due time. With a broad range of thematically and methodically focused workshops GRADE Gender offers the opportunity to discuss and elaborate dissertation and habilitation projects with internationally renowned scholars. Furthermore, GRADE Gender invites members to attend interdisciplinary lecture series with changing topics and to participate in an annually hosted summer school. These events do not only foster specific research projects but they also provide an opportunity to build up networks and to achieve highly esteemed debating and presenting competencies. Thus, GRADE Gender creates excellent conditions for designing and completing research projects as well as establishing supportive networks with long lasting effects.