Gender, Ethnicity and Class in Roma Studies: Whither Intersectionality?

Research Seminar in Cluj-Napoca (Romania), 11-14th of April 2013

Call for applications

MA and PhD students of Romani background from Eastern Europe are invited to apply for participating in a 3 day academic seminar on the intersectionality of gender, race (ethnicity) and social class.

Rooted in USA Black feminism and making the main theoretical concern of postcolonial studies, the concept of intersectionality contributed to understandings of multiple forms of discriminations against racialized women and men within the political context of the “governance of the poor”. The seminar research asks how the concept of intersectionality can be used in the context of European structural social inequality in which most of Romany populations live. It explores if and how this concept might be employed in different research stages such as data gathering or analytical framing of findings. It also addresses concrete methodological questions, issued from different field researches among Roma populations and aims to challenge this concept. Organizers will provide to participants several fundamental readings via email in order to prepare the seminar.

The seminar focuses on the articulation of different types of power relations, raising thus crucial questions concerning the nature of domination, resistance and agency that characterise Romani populations in contemporary societies. The overall theme of the seminar will occasion participants to critically consider power relations in their structural, institutional, individual and collective dimensions in a wide range of social, historical, cultural and political settings. Participants will be invited to reflect on representations of power which underpin their own research projects.

The seminar consists in four lectures, four master classes, film screenings and a round table.

Lectures & Master classes

  • Dr. Iulia Hasdeu, anthropologist, researcher and lecturer at Gender Studies Institute – Sociology Department, University of Geneva (Switzerland)
  • Dr. Elisabeth Tauber, anthropologist, researcher, Free University of Bolzano (Italy), Center of Competence: Innovation and Quality in Social Professions
  • Gergö Pulay, anthropologist, PhD candidate at CEU (Hungary), Department of Sociology and Social Anthropology
  • Catalina Tesar, anthropologist, PhD candidate at University College London, researcher at the National Museum of the Romanian Peasant Bucharest, associate lecturer at SNSPA (Romania).

Each of the above will deliver a lecture outlining their own approach to the question of intersectionality. They will also take part in a Master Class, where participants will have the opportunity to present their own research projects for the experts to comment on.

Eligibility

The main target group are students of Romani backgroud from Eastern Europe, enrolled in a MA or PhD program in social sciences. BA students will be also considered on a case-by-case basis. Anthropology, Sociology, Gender Studies, Political Science, Demography, History, Public Policy, Social Theory are all eligible fields. Priority will be acorded to students who are commited to long term academic research. The language of the seminar is English. Students are expected to have a good command of the English language.

Application

Candidates should fill in the form attached. They should provide a 500 word (excluding bibliography) resume in English of the presentations they will deliver during the seminar and a short biographical description (max 250 words) of themselves (see form). BA students are encouraged to submit a letter of motivation along with the form attached. Applications should be sent via email both to romastudies.cluj@yahoo.com, and to rsnet.secretary@gmail.com.

Organisation and funding

  • Iulia Hasdeu, Anthropologist, UNIGE (Geneva)
  • Catalina Tesar, Anthropologist, Muzeul Taranului Roman (Bucharest).

The seminar is funded by the European Academic Network on Romani Studies http://romanistudies.eu/. Accommodation and transportation will be fully covered.

Deadlines

Candidates should submit their applications no latter than the 24h of February 2013. Only 12 participants will be selected by the organizers.

Download: Call for application and Application form

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