Background

Over many years feminist and gender researchers have sought to challenge dominant knowledge production processes (Hooks 1989; Abu-Lughud Soziologin 1991; Kandiyoti 2002; Narayan 1993; Skeggs 1997; Smith 2012;). Critical feminist research, in particular, has had a long-standing goal of challenging the essentialism, power hierarchies, and concepts of difference embedded in the research process.  Feminists who take intersectional approaches to their research aim to develop theoretical lenses and methodological approaches that integrate an understanding of the complexities of gender, ethnicity, sexuality, disability, social class and other inequalities into the process of research and knowledge generation.  They also put gender at the heart of their analysis.

The Gender and Education Network invites Early Career Researchers to engage in a two-part workshop. The first part will engage participants in career focused conversations regarding how gender and other aspects of diversity have/have-not impinged on their research career and research foci. This reflexive approach will enable us to explore the biases embedded in research and academic careers. The second part will focus on analysis of some data pertaining to academic careers that will help illustrate a critical feminist and intersectional approach to data analysis.  

This workshop aims to (i) provide an opportunity to share our own intersectional journeys as gender based researchers (ii) utilise critical and methodological perspectives (iii) build peer-networks for mutual learning and future collaboration.

Content and Structure

The session will begin with a brief Introduction to Gender and Education Network as a space to create professional networks, support structures and academic communities. 

The workshop will focus on analysing academic careers using a gendered lens. This will facilitate participation as all that is needed is some experience of studying or working in an academic context.

Pre-session Discussion Questions.

In order for you to get the best from the discussion and workshop it would be helpful if you could do some pre-session thinking about your research journey before attending the discussion and workshop.

Suggested Format

Discussion - We will begin the session by illustrating a reflexive approach to our own careers by having critical conversations have influenced our experiences and engagement with academia.  We will be asking you to identify one or two aspects of your own career that have been shaped by intersecting gender inequalities.  Victoria Showunmi, Andrea Abbas and Carol Taylor will each introduce two or three career defining moments that have been shaped by intersecting inequalities and will show how it has shaped an aspect of their career or their academic work. 

Workshop – Inthe workshop, groups of participants will be given some data relating to academic careers and will be guided through an exercise which support an intersectional analysis.  (Using biographical material on academic careers provided by Andrea, visual data provided by Carol and ethnographic data provided by Victoria.

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