About Sophia
Sophia aims at stimulating research and education in gender studies, while establishing contacts between the Dutch-and Frenchspeaking communities in Belgium and between the women's movement and the academic world.
Origin
- 1989: the idea of setting up a network to coordinate feminist studies in Belgium was born at the international symposium on “Concepts et réalités des études féministes” (Concepts and reality of feminist studies), which was organised by GRIF.
- 1990: A small group of feminist campaigners and researchers combined their efforts and set up the SOPHIA network.
Objectives
- Sophia aims at promoting and developing feminist research and education, as well as research and teaching about women in Belgium.
- Sophia aims to show the scientific relevance of such research and training and that it has a role to play in elaborating policies that are favourable towards women.
Specifically:
- Sophia sets up links between researchers who work in university and other centres;
- links the women’s movement with the scientific and academic spheres;
- brings different language communities closer to each other.
Public
- People involved in education such as researchers, school teachers, university lecturers, students, etc.
- Politically, socially and/or culturally active people who share an interest in the objectives of our association.
Activities
Our symposia
- give an update on feminist/gender studies made in Belgium;
- review the situation on feminist/gender research on specific themes;
- offer a critical analysis of feminist theory;
- give researchers a platform to lay out and discuss their works.
The evenings of Sophia
- focus on 'new' or controversial themes and debates in feminist studies in Belgium
- offer a space where researchers, students, activists, etc. can meet each other
Our e-newsletter and website
- provide general information about women and gender in Belgium and cover research, publications, training seminars, symposia;
- include critical analyses of books on women and gender that have been published in Belgium recently
- provide information on past, present and future feminist, women’s and gender studies in Belgium.
International contacts
- Sophia is a member of Atgender and takes part in its activities.
Support
- Sophia receives support from the federal Institute for the Equality of Women and Men.
