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Contacts:
Academic – Prof Gabriele Griffin – gg512@york.ac.uk
Website - http://www.york.ac.uk/inst/cws/
Description
Established in 1984, the Centre for Women’s Studies supports innovative work on women and gender at postgraduate level and beyond. Based very centrally on campus on the third floor of Grimston House, the Centre has a core staff of four – Professor Stevi Jackson, Professor Gabriele Griffin, Dr Ann Kaloski-Naylor and Ms Harriet Badger (Administrator), though contributors to the Centre’s work include staff and researchers from the departments of English and Related Literature, Sociology, Social Policy and Social Work, History, Politics, Management Studies as well as the Centres for Mediaeval Studies and Eighteenth-Century Studies. The Centre is home to our research group, and thus provides a focal point for a wide range of research interests.
As well as providing a base for research the Centre also hosts:
- the peer-reviewed international academic journal Feminist Theory
- the Palgrave Series of Women’s Studies Books
- the independent feminist press Raw Nerve Books;
- regular work-in-progress seminars, with both external and in-house speakers;
- the Women’s Studies’ Prize and the Susan Anderson Memorial Award;
- conferences and days schools;
- European projects, including exchanges and summer school collaborations;
- visiting scholars;
- new developments in teaching, including photographic work and on-line learning.
The University of York was the first institution in UK to award a doctorate in Women's Studies, and the Centre continues to welcome both full and part-time MPhil and PhD candidates working on a wide range of topics.
Our international reputation is based on:
- Sensitivity to theoretical and conceptual issues;
- Focus on sexual diversities;
- Emphasis on race, racism and ethnicity;
- Commitment to acknowledge the experiences of women in non-Western societies;
- Strong tradition of historical research;
- High profile in debates about literature and cultural reproduction;
- Unique research training programmes;
- Innovations in teaching, such as writing and photography workshops.
The Centre for Women's Studies has excellent relations with departments throughout the University, especially those in the humanities and the social sciences. Each department runs its own research seminar series which are open to any graduate student. The Centre for Women's Studies organises its own regular staff-graduate seminars at which members of staff, graduate students and distinguished visiting scholars present research papers.
Research
The Centre for Women’s Studies and its associated staff include some of the leading international scholars in the field such as Prof Haleh Afshar, a renowned specialist in feminist studies on Muslim identities and on women in Iran; Prof Mary Maynard who has published extensively on feminist research methods ad on women ad social policy; Prof Stevi Jackson, whose work centres on sexuality studies; Prof Hilary Graham who is a leading specialist in feminist health studies; Dr Anne Akeroyd whose work centres on development studies; Dr Ann Kaloski, who works on feminist cultural studies, bisexuality, and feminist cultural technology studies; Prof Gabriele Griffin who works on women’s cultural production, particularly women’s theatre, and on Women’s Studies as a discipline. The Centre has bee in existence for over 20 years and in that time ran many highly successful international events. In July 2007 it hosts the ‘Gender 2007 – East Meets West’ conference which has attracted participants from around the world including delegations from Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, mainland China, Nigeria, South Africa, Canada, and many others.
Together with the Centre for Gender Studies (CIGS) at the University of Leeds, the University of York has recently developed a collaborative research training programme for PhD students in Gender/Women’s Studies.
The Centre houses the international peer-reviewed journal Feminist Theory (Sage).
The Centre has hosted many international scholars from Australia, India, the USA and other countries. It has excellent facilities for such visitors, and has numerous significant international research links.
The Centre has a long-standing tradition of interdisciplinary feminist research. Its key research areas are:
- Sexuality studies
- Diaspora studies (including Islam ad Muslim identities)
- Feminist health studies
- Culture and technology
It has received special commendations from the research councils for its innovative postgraduate research training.
Students
The Centre for Women’s Studies welcomes students from all over the world. At present we have about 40 students on our MA and PhDs programmes, of which more than half are international students. International students come to the Centre from many countries including the USA, Canada, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, India, China, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Cameroon, Malawi, Bangladesh, Madagascar, Iceland, Sweden, Denmark, Poland, Romania, Germany, Norway, Holland, Spain, Italy and Greece. This diversity and internationality of the postgraduates shapes and informs our research programs and training.
We also offer extra help for those whose first language is not English: a weekly discussion group led by a native English speaking tutor and language classes to help improve both academic and everyday English. Since Women’s Studies is a discipline that focuses on women’s lives and recognises differences among women, we organise our teaching to take account of diverse nationalities and cultures. Our international mix of students creates a creative and exciting environment in which students can learn about the global and local contexts of women’s lives.
PhD Study
All students for research degrees register for the MPhil in the first instance. Upgrading to PhD registration normally takes place towards the end of the first year (or its equivalent for part-time candidates). Full-time registration normally lasts 2 years (MPhil) or 3 years (PhD); for part-time candidates the periods of study are 4 years (MPhil), and 6 years (PhD).
Candidates for MPhil and PhD registration undertake specialised research in their chosen field and learn how to present their findings in the form of a thesis. Study towards a high degree includes:
- frequent specialised tutorials in the chosen field with one or two experienced supervisors
- regular meetings with a ‘thesis advisory panel’
- training in relevant methodologies (including bibliographic, archival, computing, interviewing, statistical, historiographical, and so on as appropriate)
- training in relevant areas of feminist theory and research
Our research students also enjoy:
- supportive monthly research group meetings, both formal and informal
- shared office space with personal workstation, shelving and filing cabinet
- access to photocopying, computing, mailing and telephone facilities
- shared use of the Women's Studies common room with easy chairs and kitchenette for hot food and drinks
- excellent research resources, including the Raymond Burton Humanities Research Library and access to the University’s thriving and diverse research community
As well as supporting their research, we encourage our higher degree candidates to develop a well-rounded academic profile. This might include, where appropriate:
- developing and practising teaching skills
- organising conferences and days schools
- organising and chairing our programme of visiting speakers
- publishing work in progress , as well as reviews and abstracts
- participating in relevant conferences
- representing the research group on our Board of Studies
Taught Master Programmes
The Centre for Women’s Studies offers a range of Master’s Programmes, each designed to provide both a self-contained experience of interdisciplinary postgraduate study, and the preparatory research training necessary for higher degree (MPhil/PhD) research.
The aim of each course is to broaden students’ perspectives on Women’s Studies, as well as to foster specialist interests and the develop research skills. Each degree emphasizes the current issues and debates within Women’s Studies and the object is to develop a grasp of methods and concepts as well as of knowledge. All courses share a common 40 credit introduction to current debates in women’s studies. The main difference between the MAs is thus the nature, and extent of research training offered. Students decide in discussion with their supervisor, or the Centre’s admissions tutor, which course is the best for them to take.
MA in Women’s Studies
The taught component of this programme consists of two compulsory modules – Approaches to Women's Studies I and II; two option modules; and 40 credits from a range of research methodology modules. In addition, students are allocated a supervisor for their dissertation.
MA in Women's Studies (Humanities)
The taught component of this programme consists of the following compulsory modules – Approaches to Women's Studies I and II; two option modules; and two research methodology modules and a series of dissertation workshops. In addition, students are allocated a supervisor for their dissertation.
MA in Women's Studies (Social Research)
The taught component of this programme consists of Approaches to Women's Studies I and II; Interdisciplinary Methods in Women's Studies (10 credits), Introduction to Social Research Methods (20 credits), Quantitative Methods and Data Analysis (20 credits), Qualitative Methods (20 credits), and Research Design and Implementation (10 credits). In addition, students are allocated a supervisor for their dissertation (60 credits).
There is a high degree of commitment to an interdisciplinary approach in the programme within the remit of each route. The aim of the courses is to broaden students’ perspectives on Women’s Studies as well as fostering specialist interests. It is expected that students themselves will contribute considerably to the shaping of elements of the course.
Current Major International Research Projects
Prof G Griffin currently co-ordinates the EU-funded ‘Integrated Research Methods in the Social Sciences and Humanities’ project (Ref: CIT2-CT-2004-506013, website: www.york.ac.uk/res/researchintegration) which involves 9 partners from 8 European countries: Prof Ursula Apitzsch (Frankfurt University, Germany); Prof Nicky Le Feuvre (Université de Toulouse Le Mirail, France), Prof Silke Wenk, (Oldenburg University, Germany), Dr Isabel Carrera Suarez (Oviedo University, Spain), Prof Harriet Silius (Abo Akademi University, Finland), Prof Jasmina Lukic (Central European University, Hungary), Prof Karin Widerberg (Oslo University, Norway), Prof Ulla Holm (Goeteborg University, Sweden).
Prof G Griffin is partner in an EU-funded Marie Curie Early Researcher Training Network (‘Gendergraduates’) coordinated by Prof Rosemarie Beukema (University of Utrecht, Netherlands) and involving Prof Vita Fortunati (Bologna University, Italy), Prof Elsbieta Oleksy (University of Lodz, Poland), Prof Nina Lykke (Linkoping University, Sweden), Prof Svetlana Slapsak (Institutum Humanitorum, Ljubljana, Slovenia).
Prof G Griffin has been visiting professor on a 3-year SOROS-funded East Balkan Faculty Development research project on the development of Women’s Studies in the Balkans, coordinated by the Euro-Balkan Institute, Skopje, Macedonia.
Center Staff
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