Mission statement
The Centre for Research on Culture and Gender aims to bring together scholars and students across disciplinary divides working and/or interested in the broad category of ‘culture’ as it is – differentially – employed across the arts, humanities and social sciences. We are primarily interested in the study of ‘culture’ from anthropological, postcolonial, constructivist, interpretive and critical perspectives. We are also open to interdisciplanary collaboration and dialogue across the faculties, scientific paradigms and fields.
Secondly, the centre employs ‘gender’ – historically and socially-culturally constructed understandings and practices of femininity and masculinity – as an analytical entry point concept for studying and discussing relations and identities in culture and society. Inspired by both feminist and the intersectional approach to questions of power and difference, categories of gender and sexuality (LGBTQI), but also ethnicity, nation, religion, class and ability are among the research foci.
Methodologically, the centre attracts and is open to scholars employing one or more of the following qualitative research methods: ethnography, interviewing, critical social research, ethical inquiry, historical research, discourse and visual analysis. We are also open to collaboration across various methods, including quantitative research.
The research group differs from other centres for gender studies in its more narrow focus on the relationship between culture and gender; at the same time it wishes to engage with others who are active in the field of critical theory and/or qualitative or quantitative methods more broadly.
Through its activities, the centre offers a platform and meeting place for in-depth exchange on theory and research among scholars at Ghent University, in connection and cooperation with other centres, groups, departments and universities in Belgium and internationally.
Vision
Through research, teaching, scholarly exchange and public events we aim to understand better and tackle key challenges surrounding issues of identity and difference, in a world that is increasingly characterised by complex kinds of diversity and profound forms of inequality.
The centre aspires to provide a critical space in academia for creating and sharing transformative knowledge based on rigorous scientific research methods.
It aims to understand and critique mechanisms of cultural and social inequities based on axes such as ethnicity, gender and sexuality, while affirming and envisioning societal inclusion, political change and cultural creativity.