Gender Relations in a Changing Europe: Knowledge, Challenges, and Future Directions
Barcelona, Spain | November 6th-7th 2025
Submit your abstract by April 21st, 2025.
Conference theme
The ESA Research Network 33 on Women’s and Gender Studies is pleased to announce a Mid-Term Conference entitled “Gender Relations in a Changing Europe: Knowledge, Challenges, and Future Directions”.
As Europe undergoes significant socio-political and economic transformations, driven in part by the rise of right-wing political movements, migration flows and the impact of global conflicts and related uprisings, gender relations and the experiences of women in various spheres of life are continuously evolving.
The conference will offer a platform for critical discussions on the evolving dynamics of gender relations in Europe, drawing comparisons between past, present, and future perspectives. We invite contributions that examine the current state of gender relations, the challenges for sociological research, and the potential directions for future research, advocacy, and policy development.
We invite papers that address, but are not limited to, the following themes:
- Shifting Power Structures in EuropeExamining the changing political, economic, and cultural power dynamics and their impact on gender equality and women’s rights across Europe.
- Gendered Impacts of Migration and Mobility
- Investigating how gender relations are influenced by migration and how migration changes gender roles in Europe.
- Gender-based violence and forms of prevention
- Contributing with the latest scientific research contributions on the overcoming and prevention of gender-based violence in different contexts.
- Feminist Movements and Activism in Contemporary Europe
- Exploring the role of grassroots and institutional feminist movements in shaping gender policies and advocating for women’s rights across European countries, placing emphasis on their role in countering gender backlash.
- Future Directions for Women’s and Gender Studies in Europe
- Reflecting on new methodological approaches, theoretical frameworks, and areas of inquiry that will shape the future of women’s and gender studies in Europe.
- Reflecting on new methodological approaches, theoretical frameworks, and areas of inquiry that will shape the future of women’s and gender studies in Europe.
Abstracts submission
Please submit your abstract to the ESA RN33 Coordinators (Esther Oliver Perez, estheroliver@ub.edu & Stellamarina Donato s.donato3@lumsa.it ) by April 21st, 2025.
The abstract should be no more than 500 words and should outline the theme, methodology and the main findings of the study. It should also specifically outline how the author(s) intend(s) to address one or more of the issues raised in the call for papers.
Please e-mail your abstract including a title, five keywords, author(s) names and affili liations and e-mail address of each author.
Please write “Abstract proposal for ESA RN33 2025 mid-term Conference” in the subject line of the e-mail.
Decisions will be communicated by the end of June 2025.
Human library of scholars in women’s and gender studies
RN33 Human Library will create a space for connection and learning within participants, regardless of their differences. In an open and respectful conversation, “readers” (PhD and junior researchers) can ask questions, listen to stories, and gain new perspectives from volunteers – i.e. senior scholars, who are experts and have an extended background researching subjects in the field of Women’s and Gender studies. The main aim of this activity is to promote interaction and building knowledge among the Mid Term participants.
If you are a senior scholar and want to be involved in this activity, please email us by May 15, 2025.
Conference Venue, Fees and Accommodation
Conference programme features two keynote lectures, plenary discussions, paper sessions, a human library, a lecture for PhD and a music performance.
No conference fees will be charged to ESA RN33 members or members of the Catalan Association of Sociology as co-organizers, but conference participants will need to pay their own travel, meals and accommodation costs.
Information on hotels and hostels close to the Conference venue will be communicated in due course.
In order to promote networking and increase participation in the RN33, the MidTerm Conference will be opened to non-members of the RN33. To these participants, the following fees will be applied:
Non-members: € 50
ESA members who are not RN33 members: €40 (need to provide the justification of your membership)
PhD Students non-members: € 30 (need to provide a justification of this condition)
Coordinator: Esther Oliver Perez Vice-Coordinator: Stellamarina Donato
Assistant Coordinator: Alicja Zawistowska Assistant Coordinator: Sara Merlini
Scientific Committee
Coordination: Esther Oliver Perez, Stellamarina Donato, Alicja Zawistowska, Sara Merlini
Board Members: Maddalena Cannito, Yvonne Ehrstein, Ombretta Ingrascì, Izabela Korbiel, Christina Marouli, Tal Meler, Ilenia Picardi, Elisabetta Ruspini, Jure Skubic, Haktan Ural, Chiara Urone, Ana Vidu, Pinar Melis Yelsali Parmakisiz
In collaboration with:
Institut d’Estudis Catalans
Associasó Catalana de Sociologia