Not so long ago, issues such as gender, sexuality, and the relationship between the sexes were not systematically theorized, researched or taught. Today, however, there is such a large body of feminist knowledge and theory on these topics that it cannot be adequately covered within traditional disciplines. Feminist researchers have developed innovative theory and research techniques to address key questions about women’s lives and status in society, and the dilemmas and contradictions in gender relations and sexualities in all societies. The teaching, research and outreach activities of the Centre are all informed by the belief that all social processes are ‘gendered’, and that understanding gender relations is therefore a crucial component in any teaching and research.
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Latest News
Consuming Families: Buying, making, producing family life in the 21st century (Routledge 2013) This book is just published by Associate Professors Jo Lindsay and JaneMaree Maher, drawing on a decade of gender, family and consumption research. Consumption is central battleground in public debates over morality, excess and gendered responsibility. These contests are particularly critical for contemporary families in Western nations, where ... Read more
Associate Professor Suzanne Fraser (Curtin University), Professor Jan Wright, Associate Professor JaneMaree Maher, Professor Alan Petersen and Dr Claire Tanner Contemporary medicine is locating the origins of common health problems such as diabetes, heart disease and bowel cancer earlier and earlier in the lives of individuals. As a result, scrutiny of the diet and lifestyle of ... Read more
Following the completion of the Parliament ofVictoria Law Reform Committee’s Call for Submissions for their Inquiry into Sexting on 15 June 2012, Dr Amy Shields Dobson, Dr Mary Lou Rasmussen and Dr Danielle Tyson were invited to attend and present to the Committee on this issue based on their submission document on Monday 10 December ... Read more
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Postgraduate research is a vital part of the Centre’s activities and postgraduate students are central to the intellectual life of the Centre. Research postgraduate students (Masters and PhD) are researching a range of key contemporary gender issues in the social sciences and feminist cultural studies. The Centre also offers postgraduate coursework opportunities for interested students ... Read more
Amy’s PhD thesis (Sociology Monash 2010) entitled ‘Bitches, bunnies, and BFFs (Best Friends Forever): A feminist analysis of young women’s performance of contemporary popular femininities on MySpace‘ recently received a High Commendation for excellence in feminist doctoral scholarship from the Australian Women’s and Gender Studies Association (AWGSA). Read more
Dr Karolyne Quinn (Women’s Studies PhD 2011) has been awarded the Mollie Holman Medal for the Faculty of Arts. The Mollie Holman Medal recognises excellence and outstanding contribution. Karolyne’s thesis explored the experience of women survivors of child sexual abuse in counselling and therapy. Her work found that more attention to women’s embodied responses were ... Read more
