25/12/2023 | Writer: Selma Koçak
Aramızda Gender Research Association brought together academics from 19 different universities for a workshop to discuss the current state of gender studies in the academic world.
Aramızda Gender Research Association held its workshop entitled “Defending, Making Visible and Empowering Gender Studies in Academia” on the 23rd and 24th of December in Ankara. Academics from 19 different universities participated in the workshop.
The workshop was organized to discuss ways of widening the working space, which has been narrowing since 2015, especially with the abolition of the Gender Equality Position Paper by the Council of Higher Education in 2019. The difficulties in academia, the most important dilemmas and methods of resistance against them were the subject of discussion.
The workshop, which brought together academics from both state and private universities, highlighted that the increasing difficulty of conducting research that includes the notion of “gender” and the fact that most of the women's research units in universities, which have been closed or rendered dysfunctional, have been turned into tools of anti-women's policies, pose a great danger, and academics had the opportunity to reflect together on alternative solutions.
The main topics discussed were the perspective of university administrations on gender studies, gender curricula, possibilities of gender opposition and resistance in universities, publishing and gender studies, relations between academia and civil society in gender studies.
There was discussion about the fact that the general political atmosphere in Turkey has an impact on the universities as well and that universities have their share of repression in every field. It was pointed out that scientific production itself has become a field of struggle, especially in an environment where many issues in the field of social sciences are ignored, prevented or made difficult to study in one way or another.
Underlining that the most burning issue in the context of gender studies in academia is LGBTI+, academics shared their experiences in their academic lives. They explained that when they used the term LGBTI+ in their studies or wanted to carry out a study in this area, sometimes they were complained to Presidential Communication Center (CİMER), sometimes they were forced to remove the term LGBTI+ from their studies, and sometimes these sections were removed and included in publications without even informing them.
The academics said that universities are gradually moving away from science and the political atmosphere is becoming more repressive, as LGBTI+ studies are sometimes targeted and labelled as ‘deviant’ by some media organs that promote hatred such as Yeni Akit newspaper, and enter the radar screen of political power and the Higher Education Board (YÖK) as a result of targeting. They explained that the dissertations of some students who want to study issues such as LGBTI+ health, LGBTI+ and employment are not accepted, and that the work they want to do with LGBTI+ organisations are prevented. Academics stated that working with LGBTI+ organizations and communities or women’s organisations is criminalized, and pointed out that the current situation leads both academics and students to stay away from gender studies.
Revolutionizing by walking the tightrope between tactics and strategy
On the other hand, the academics also discussed the methods and possibilities of resistance, emphasizing that there are still academics who carry out their scientific work in universities in the midst of all these pressures.
Discussing how the gender equality document, which is a prerequisite for applying for European Union projects, can become a very empowering tool, the academics underlined the need to make functional use of such tools. The academics also shared that they sometimes resort to self-censorship, consciously or unconsciously, due to the authoritarian and repressive policies in the universities. They expressed their satisfaction that this self-censorship is usually broken by the students. Noting that the LGBTI+ movement is the first example students give when describing social movements, the academics mentioned that it is promising to see that especially female students at universities are standing up for equality, even if they don’t call it “feminism”, even if they have acquired it through popular culture.
During the event, it was emphasized that international cooperation opportunities should be developed and strengthened as universities and academic production are suffering from the authoritarianism that is spreading not only in Turkey but all over the world.
It was also mentioned that it is necessary to see the positive effects of the dismissed academics in terms of carrying and disseminating science and scientific study opportunities outside of the academy, and that many associations, initiatives and formations established have been culminated in carrying out very valuable studies. It was emphasized that it is very valuable to work with civil society organizations both internationally and within Turkey, and it was discussed that a roadmap should be prepared by thinking about the possibilities of developing collaboration in between CSO’s and universities.
The two-day workshop came to an end with the participants expressing their hope and encouragement for the scientific work ahead.
Tags: human rights, women, education
