Early Career Researcher Workshop 1:
On April 6, 2023, the Europe and World Center at the University of Liverpool hosted the inaugural Early Career Researcher Workshop, themed "Feminist Epistemic Justice in the EU and Beyond." Held in the historic Arthur West rooms at 8-11 Abercromby Square, the event kicked off with a warm welcome from Özge Zihnioğlu, who introduced the day's focus on challenging traditional epistemologies through feminist perspectives.
The workshop began with an insightful session by Rahime Süleymanoğlu-Kürüm from Bahçeşehir University, discussing epistemic injustice and the decolonial framework, enriched by active participant feedback. After a nourishing lunch, the afternoon featured presentations from Amal Abu-Bakare and Özge Zihnioğlu, each sharing their research plans and sparking thoughtful discussions.
Melis Cin from the University of Lancaster and Miriam Mona Mukalazi continued the dialogue with their respective presentations, further exploring feminist epistemic themes. The workshop reached its culmination in a collective discussion about the potential journal publications and the establishment of timelines for future collaboration, reflecting a shared commitment to advancing feminist epistemic justice.
The workshop facilitated both in-person and virtual participation, ensuring a broad and inclusive platform for debate. It successfully highlighted the FEJUST Jean Monnet Chair’s dedication to advancing scholarship in feminist epistemic justice, with the support of the European Commission.
For further details, please refer to the workshop program.
Early Career Researcher Workshop 2:
The workshop commenced with registration followed by an opening speech by Jean Monnet Chair Rahime Süleymanoğlu-Kürüm, who highlighted the importance of gendering EU studies and addressing epistemic injustice. This set the stage for a series of panel discussions that explored diverse aspects of gender in EU policy-making. All panels were chaired by Jean Monnet Chair Rahime Süleymanoğlu-Kürüm, in presence of FEJUST Team members Damla Bayraktar Aksel and Selin Türkeş Kılıç, as internal and external advisors.
Panel 1 delved into the societal impact of EU policies on gender, including employment equality and political representation. Presentations covered topics such as the EU's efforts to combat the gender pay gap and occupational segregation, and the discursive delegitimization of gender equality policies in France.
Following a coffee break, Panel 2 examined EU gender equality through various case studies. Discussions included reconciliation policies in Germany and France, Sweden's feminist foreign policy, and the Europeanisation of gender equality policies in Turkey.
After another coffee break, Panel 3, focused on the themes of violence and trafficking. It featured critical discussions on human trafficking in the EU, violence against women, and the specific challenges related to women's victimization and contemporary slavery.
The final segment, Panel 4, chaired by Rahime Süleymanoğlu-Kürüm, concentrated on a comprehensive literature review concerning gender politics within the EU. Topics included backsliding of gender policies in Central and Eastern Europe and the political representation of women in the EU.
The workshop concluded with a wrap-up session, synthesizing the day’s discussions and emphasizing the ongoing importance of integrating gender perspectives into EU policy-making. The event provided a thorough examination of gender-related challenges and strategies within the EU framework, fostering a deeper understanding among scholars and policy-makers alike.
Participants of the workshop were MA students enrolled in the Global Affairs program, who utilized the event as a platform to develop their term papers. The primary goal of the workshop was to motivate these students to pursue active research while emphasizing the importance of considering EU and gender issues in their future professional and academic endeavors. Additionally, the event aimed to promote and enhance EU studies within the host institution, enriching the academic environment and broadening the scholarly perspectives of the participants.
For further details, please refer to the workshop program.
Early Career Researcher Workshop 3:
Bahçeşehir University is proud to host the forthcoming workshop, "Searching for Feminist Epistemic Justice in the EU and Beyond," on June 6, 2024. The event will take place in the Dr. Çağkan Ubay Meeting Room, located on the second floor of A Block, Güney Campus.
The workshop will commence with registration and an introductory meet-and-greet at 8:30 AM, followed by an opening speech at 9:00 AM by Rahime Süleymanoğlu-Kürüm, who will explore how epistemic justice can be conceptualized through a feminist lens. Please note that the workshop will be conducted in Turkish.
Panel 1 will explore epistemic injustice within EU gender debates. The panel includes Ayşe Deniz Ünan Göktan from Kadir Has University discussing EU gender policies from an epistemic injustice perspective, Elif Gençkal Eroler from İstanbul Topkapı University on the impact of feminist movements in Turkey during the pandemic era, and Gonca Oğuz Gök from Marmara University analyzing gender inequality indices in relation to epistemic justice.
After a coffee break, Panel 2 will delve into gender activism in Turkey in the context of the EU. Discussions include the influence of Turkey's political shifts on women's NGOs by Nazlı Kazanoğlu from Nişantaşı University, participatory action research into anti-gender movements by Dize Doğan and Deniz Bal, and an evaluation of Turkey's gender equality policies by Deniz Bal.
After lunch, Panel 3 will focus on women and leadership in the EU. This panel will include discussions on women's roles in EU mediation and peacebuilding practices with a focus on Kosovo-Serbia by Burcu Özdemir-Sarıgil from TED University, an analysis of Ursula von der Leyen’s leadership on EU gender policies by Ayşegül Gökalp Kutlu from Kocaeli University, and a case study on breaking male dominance in EU politics with an example from Italy by Buket Ökten Sipahioğlu.
The final panel, Panel 4 will address gender, epistemic violence, and femo-nationalism. Discussions will include deconstructing gender stereotypes in Turkey by İrem Akpolat, Gülce Hatipoğlu, and Ahmet Ger; a case analysis on Erdoğan and Orban regarding epistemic violence by Atlas Osman Berk Selvi; and an examination of femo-nationalism by İbrahim Ekrem Sarı and Ceren Çolakoğlu.
The workshop will conclude with final remarks by Rahime Süleymanoğlu-Kürüm, focusing on publication plans for a special issue in FE Dergi, a nationally indexed journal. This publication aims to diversify the FEJUST Chair’s scope in Turkish academia, promising a day of insightful discussions and scholarly exchange on feminist epistemic justice within and beyond the European Union.
For further details, please refer to the workshop program.
If you want to join our workshop to listen to excellent presentations and engage in our discussions, please register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd4PrJ62rBZx22hr7ci5NBRr6EMuaVgJVJO8lHl8y-G1kvYBA/viewform?usp=sf_link
Early Career Researcher Workshop 4:
On June 7, 2024, Bahçeşehir University will convene a virtual workshop, "Reimagining EU Politics: Embracing Feminist Epistemic Justice and Decolonial Perspectives," accessible via Microsoft Teams. This event is part of an initiative to expand EU studies by integrating critical perspectives that address epistemic justice and decolonization, enriching the dialogue around EU policies and their global implications.
The workshop will feature three thematic panels throughout the day, each chaired by leading scholars in the field. The first panel, "Epistemic Injustice and EU Policy-Making Inside Out," chaired by Selin Türkeş Kılıç, will explore how feminist epistemic justice can deconstruct Eurocentrism within the EU's gender equality regime. Speakers will delve into the complexities of Europeanisation mechanisms and their impact on policy frameworks, highlighting contributions from academics such as Rahime Süleymanoğlu-Kürüm and Melis Cin.
Following a short break, the second panel, "Gender-Sensitive Issues and Policymaking," will shift focus to how EU policies affect racialized women in academia and the gender dynamics in European agricultural policy. Chaired by Melis Cin, this session promises rigorous analysis from experts like Bruna Cristina Jaquetto Pereira and Markus Holdo, offering insights into how gendered policymaking intersects with issues of environmental justice and corporate accountability.
The day will conclude with the third panel, "Epistemic Injustice Beyond the EU," chaired by Markus Holdo. This session will broaden the geographical scope to examine how feminist epistemic perspectives inform climate justice initiatives and gender activism in non-EU contexts. Discussions will feature case studies on local women's voices in environmental struggles and the role of EU support in gender activism in regions like Tanzania.
This scholarly gathering will not only foster critical discussions but also contribute to a special issue in the Journal of Gender Studies. The aim is to diversify the academic discourse surrounding EU studies by including innovative topics that challenge traditional boundaries and promote a more inclusive understanding of epistemic justice.
This workshop promises to be a significant step toward enriching feminist epistemic justice within and beyond European borders, offering a comprehensive platform for scholarly exchange and debate.
For further details, please refer to the workshop program.
If you want to join our workshop as a participant, please register here:
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