When you think of religion, do you then think of sexuality? Does the connection then become a drastic dis-connection, a sentiment of incompatibility and impossibility, as the mind wanders over abortion debates, family planning, and the ‘sins’ of homosexuality? These collisions are apparent in recent UK debates on the Civil Partnership Act (2004), The Equality Act (2006) and the proposed Con-Lib plans to legalize gay marriage by 2015. All have generated significant controversies, frequently positing Christian ‘backlash’ against more integrative calls for inclusion. Representations of ‘sexual citizenship’ are still positioned as separate from and indeed negated by religious rights and some religions are (mis)positioned as more hostile, tolerating and welcoming than others. Sweeping claims are made about the representation of broader secular publics where some suggest that ‘Religious Leaders are out of Touch with Sexuality Issues’. Over time policy-makers and the media have variously positioned religious leaders and communities as (un)wise and (in)competent citizens; with – or without – the capabilities and connectedness to contemporary British publics. The voices of those most vocal are heard here, where gaps exist between prescription and practice and between official institutional stances – in being in or out of touch – and what is experienced on the ground at congregational level. Against this often highly intense social context young LGBT Christians try to find a sense of belonging and identification, which Making Space for Queer Identifying Religions Youth (ESRC, 2011-2013) focuses upon. Starting with a focus on the Metropolitan Community Church (MCC), the project offers insight into the management and development of excluded and in some ways ‘contradictory’ identity positions. How might religion and sexuality serve as a vehicle for various forms of belonging, identification and political expression where these have been pitted against one another? Continue reading “Making Space for Queer Identifying Religious Youth (2011-2013)”
Selling Science as ‘a Girl Thing’
When the EU launched a short viral video to publicise their It’s a Girl Thing! campaign to get more women into science, it all kicked off in the blogosphere and twitterverse. The 45 second promo, which looks like a cross between a cosmetics ad and a girl group music video, begins with a young good-looking lab-coated male scientist looking up from his microscope to the shocking (and arousing?) sight of three attractive young women dressed in very high heels and even shorter skirts. These women giggle and provocatively gesture their way through the ad, intercut with overflowing test-tubes, models of molecules, lipstick and other girlie and scientific ephemera. Oh, and one of them gets to elegantly scribble symbols on a transparent board. At the end their fashionable shades transform into equally fashionable safety goggles. The music, with its single lyric, reminds us: ‘Science – It’s a Girl Thing!’ So is this how to ‘sell’ science to girls? Continue reading “Selling Science as ‘a Girl Thing’”
Cutting the UK Equalities Commission – one cut too far?
The Equalities and Human Rights Commission is currently in a fight for its survival. Continue reading “Cutting the UK Equalities Commission – one cut too far?”
Connecting the Cares: Lines of Flight, Emotional Drives
There were many similarities in our journeys, with repeated meetings across time and place, first at Rutgers University, New Jersey, then London and then Oakland: our queer community – and queer cares – kept bringing us together it seemed. ‘Queerness’ exists in these shared encounters and in the familial and societal demands made and refused as we inhabit our spaces carefully and with care. Continue reading “Connecting the Cares: Lines of Flight, Emotional Drives”
Rethinking gender equality in the teaching profession: is secondary school teaching ‘women-friendly’?
In many countries, teaching is constructed as a ‘women-friendly’ profession. By drawing on Les Enseignants et le Genre, a recently published cross-national comparison of men and women teachers based in French and English secondary schools, I want to question this view. Continue reading “Rethinking gender equality in the teaching profession: is secondary school teaching ‘women-friendly’?”
GEA Interim Conference, 11th – 13th April 2012
The interim conference, ‘Gender and Democracy: Gender and Research in Times of Change’, was hosted by the University of Gothenburg’s Department of Education and Special Education. Continue reading “GEA Interim Conference, 11th – 13th April 2012”
Compelling Diversities, Educational Intersections: Policy, Practice, Parity
The Gender and Education Association would like to announce that the ninth international Gender and Education conference will be held at London South Bank University from Tuesday 23rd – Friday 26th April 2013. Continue reading “Compelling Diversities, Educational Intersections: Policy, Practice, Parity”
Save The Women’s Library: Take Action
Dear Colleagues,
We are writing to you to update you on recent developments with regard to the future of the Women’s Library, which is housed at London Metropolitan University.
Rejecting home for homeland: Carrie Madison and gender roles in TV’s Homeland
Homeland is a US television series based on an Israeli show, Prisoners of War. It centres on CIA agent Carrie Maddison, played by Claire Danes, who in dramatic opening scenes is told by a source that a US marine has been ‘turned’. When a few days later US marine Nicholas Brody, played by Damien Lewis, is rescued after eight years in captivity, Carrie is convinced he’s the marine in question. Alongside Brody’s heroic homecoming we follow Carrie’s increasingly obsessive attempts to prove him a traitor. Carrie’s an unusual female character so in this post we begin a conversation about her which we plan to continue as events unfold each Sunday night. We hope you’ll join in. The show is full of twists and turns so don’t read this unless you’re up to date with the latest episode shown on the UK’s Channel 4 (or you don’t mind knowing what happens in advance). If you’ve seen ahead of this and you add comments please alert us to any spoilers. Continue reading “Rejecting home for homeland: Carrie Madison and gender roles in TV’s Homeland”
Advancing Nordic Research on Gender in Education
The Nordic Educational Research Association (NERA) is the main Nordic
organisation for educational researchers and it has had a Gender and Education network for some 20 years. At this year’s NERA conference held in Copenhagen (8-10 March), the network organised paper sessions, roundtable discussions and a Gender and Education meeting which was attended by 23 delegates from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Estonia and Japan.
The conference followed an active year for NERA’s Gender and Education network. They organised a symposium at AERA’s 2011 conference, updated their website and launched a network email list, which currently has 60 members. These members are predominantly based in Sweden and Iceland where NERA’s 2013 conference will take place. Further information concerning this can be found on NERA’s website. Alternatively, join NERA’s Gender and Education email list by contacting Jukka Lehtonen (jukka.p.lehtonen@helsinki.fi).