East of Equality? Critical Feminism and Global Gender Politics

This course explores feminist theory and gender politics with a special focus on Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). We examine how different historical periods - from pre-socialist suffrage struggles, through state socialism, to postsocialist transformation - shaped gender norms, women’s rights, labour, family policies, and social reproduction. We then turn to contemporary issues: migration, LGBTQ+ rights, anti-gender politics, EU gender governance, labour and care, and intersectional inequalities. Throughout, theoretical perspectives (intersectionality, postcolonial/decolonial feminism, feminist political theory) guide our inquiry, while empirical cases ground our discussions. Students will learn to connect historical developments with ongoing gender struggles, applying feminist theory to real-world issues and understanding how the CEE region both shapes and is shaped by global gender politics. Discussions with civil society professionals and academics, as well as site visits, excursions, and film screenings, will be vital components of the course.

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