Preliminary Guiding Principles
The “Netzwerk Geschlechterforschung Hessen” is an inter- and transdisciplinary network that bundles and promotes gender research in Hesse. Our members are academics from various disciplines and status groups who work together to research the relevance of gender in society, culture, politics and science. We understand gender and gender relations as interwoven with other relations of power and domination.
The network is committed to free science in a democratic and pluralistic society. This includes the autonomy of science from the influence of political institutions. We also understand the critical examination of relations of gender, power and domination in society as a fundamental component of the freedom of research and teaching.
Aims
The aim of the network is to strengthen gender research anchored in Hessian academic institutions, to further institutionalize it, to develop it further and to represent it towards external actors. We promote inter- and transdisciplinary exchange, support researchers of all status groups and strengthen the visibility and recognition of gender research in science, politics and society.
We do this by, among other things:
- Establishing and maintaining a network of academics and institutions in Hesse that are active in the field of gender studies and networking with other actors in academia and society.
- Commitment to a solidary exchange and the strengthening of mutual support.
- Representation of interests vis-à-vis third parties (e.g. ministries, political parties, scientific institutions and research funding bodies).
- Strengthening the visibility of gender research through science communication (e.g. publications, events and public relations).
- Supporting early career researchers in gender studies.
Principles
- Inter- and transdisciplinarity: We value cooperation across disciplinary boundaries and promote exchange across different adisciplines as well as with non-university actors who advocate emancipatory gender politics.
- Plurality of gender studies: We understand gender studies as a plural field that also includes trans, queer and inter studies. This plurality includes various disciplinary approaches and positionings, for example Black Feminist Studies, Diversity Studies, feminist research on right-wing extremism and anti-Semitism, Post- and Decolonial Studies, Critical Disability Studies and intersectionality research.
- Our network is guided by an appreciative and respectful approach to this plurality.