Publisher: Heinrich Boell Foundation South Caucasus Regional Office
Editor in Chief: Davit Gabunia
Title: Manifold Angles of Gender
ISBN: 978-9941-0-5502-7
Tbilisi 2013
This is a publication of materials, a small selection of the papers
presented by researchers and activists at the International Conference – Manifold Angles of Gender: Looking through a Magnifying Glass, organized and hosted by the South Caucasus Regional Office of the Heinrich Boell Foundation.
Social sciences are against the generalizations; therefore, in this
introduction we cannot state that the four countries represented in the
publication have common problems, or the described problems have the
same origin. However, one can trace similar dynamics even at the first
glance. First of all this is defined by the shared communist history and
strengthening process of the nationalistic discourses in all presented
countries in early 1980-ies, which was constituent of different, but yet
with similar aim, national movements.
For one thing, it is obvious that the publication represents only a
small part of the vast spectrum of the problems; it does not claim to be
self-sufficient but the sharp accents and the right choices of the
authors allow certain generalization. For example, strengthening of the
religious wave in all three countries during last decades is obviously
similar – which, in its turn seems to be a logical part of the mentioned
nationalistic discourses, as religion is almost the strongest
constituent of the revived mythologized national identities. Its role
has grown so strong that it even questions secularism of the states.
One can observe how this background intensifies the mistrust to
gender activism; how it is labeled as “imposed” and “imported.” On
mentioning activism, it should also be noted that the authors of the
articles are activists paralel to their work in academia in some cases;
they work on daily basis on gender issues, women’s and LGBT rights. It
is no surprise, as feminism, and later gender sciences, were born from
the activism dictated by necessity social changes. Therefore, our
authors are not satisfied with abstract theoretisizing and discuss the
problems based on their experience.
The goal of the conference organized by the Heinrich Boell Foundation
to see the ongoing processes in our countries from different angles,
and share experience with each other; despite differences, the similar
dynamics is still evident in our countries. Activism should be supported
by theory and vice versa. Hopefully, the presented collection of
articles will contribute to achievement of this goal and will serve to
wide range of researchers and activists.
Davit Gabunia
Editor in Chief
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Content
Introduction
Davit Gabunia, Editor in Chief
Women's rights: policy and reality
Women, Politics, and Quotas. The Case of Poland, Malgorzata Fuszara
Gender Studies and Gender Sensitive Teaching,Tamar Tsopurashvili, Georgia
Gender Equality on the Surface and Beneath in Georgia, Tamar Sabedashvili, Georgia
Human Rights versus Social Protection: Discourses of Women’s Political Activism in Russia, Ludmila Popkova, Russia
Gender and religion
Protecting
Children of Ukraine: Attacks on Sexual and Reproductive Rights in
Religious Discourse and National Legislative Initiatives, Lesya Pagulich, Ukraine
The Role of the Catholic Church in Abortion Debates after 1989 in Poland, Katarzyna Pabijanek, Poland
Why does the Gender Equality Disappear at the Church Gate? Rusudan Gotsiridze, Georgia
LGBT and society
Homophobia in the Political Discourse, Eka Aghdgomelashvili, Georgia
Gender Roles in LGBT Families in Ukraine: Idealization and Reproduction of Heteronormativity, Tamara Martsenyuk, Ukraine