GRK 1599:  Dynamics of Space and Gender: Discovering - Conquering - Inventing - Narrating

• Subject Area: History
• Term: from 2010 to 2015
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 112807493

The interdisciplinary Research Training Group seeks to explore the interactions between space and gender as they are constructed in present-day and historical societies both in and outside of Europe: "doing space while doing gender". In this Research Training Group we intend to investigate explicit as well as implicit gender-specific dimensions of how spaces are constructed and experienced.
Our starting-point is the finding that in much recent work on space, the category “gender” becomes increasingly de-emphasised as the focus of the research becomes broader or more global. The subtitle of the Research Training Group refers to the constructed character of the concepts “space” and “gender” (discovering, inventing); it also highlights the aspect of imagination inherent in these concepts, both in literature and in the social world (inventing, narrating); and finally, it draws attention to the aspect of power relations and domination or control (discovering, conquering). Using sociological, ethnological, literary-theoretical and historical approaches, students focus on four (distinct) areas of concentration within the broad thematic field of space and gender: theoretical dimensions will provide a shared foundation; the three other areas of concentration are dimensions of embodiment, dimensions of location and dimensions of entanglement.
This doctoral programme places special emphasis on the notion of interdisciplinary cooperation as a never-ending learning process. The interrelations between dimensions of space and gender will be the topic of an ongoing discussion that includes colloquia, research groups and workshops as well as a programme of visiting scholars and guest lectures. In addition, an accompanying training programme in personal skills will help prepare doctoral candidates for a variety of career paths after earning their degrees. Close supervision by faculty mentors and a clearly designed course of study will help to ensure their success.

• DFG Programme: Research Training Groups
• Applicant Institution: Universität Kassel
• Co-Applicant Institution: Georg-August-Universität Göttingen
• Participating Researchers: Professorin Dr. Ingrid Baumgärtner; Professorin Dr. Mechthild Bereswill; Professorin Dr. Brigitte Johanna Glaser; Professorin Dr. Andrea Lauser; Professorin Dr. Silke Schicktanz; Professorin Dr. Irene Schneider
• Spokespersons: Professorin Dr. Rebekka Habermas (†); Professorin Dr. Nikola Roßbach