Teaching Gender Diversity and Inclusivity: Theory, Practice and Intersectional Experiences

This section interrogates the current trending experiences of gendered teaching pedagogy, diversity and inclusivity and invites discussions that critically engage with theory, practice and challenges. It seeks to examine if and to what extent teaching gender diversity and inclusivity can impact pedagogy and credibility of the discipline. It particularly wants to explore how including diversity and inclusivity in the classroom is becoming more challenging as we adopt more digital teaching methods and navigate working from different environments. Proposed Panels: We are particularly interested in panels / papers engaging with one or more of the following themes / questions: 1. Teacher Training on Pedagogical Inclusivity • Teaching methods, materials, and environments: o What does it mean to incorporate a gendered pedagogy? o How are teaching methods impacted by / through gender? o How does the teaching and learning environment become gendered? • Including various voices: o Are alternative and inclusive pedagogical voices being heard? o How are these various voices being taught? o What gendered challenges or limitations are encountered in teaching Political Science? • Diversity and Inclusivity: o Have policies on diversity and inclusivity “dumbed down” the rigour of obtaining a degree and academia as a whole? o Have notions of diversity and inclusivity in the classroom become too academic and policy driven? o How can we reclaim back the essence of equality and fairness in our teaching without jeopardising the integrity of our practice? 2. Race, Intersectionality and Diversity in European Political Science • Decolonising the curriculum o How can decolonising the curriculum forge comprehension and connections between different groups of people? o Can we demonstrate examples of decolonising the curriculum? o Has decolonisation become co-opted by the institution and lost its merit? • Black Lives Matter Climate o Does BLM impact our teaching and pedagogy? o How do we address the current climate through our teaching and learning? o How can BLM be useful in addressing the challenges the world, as a whole, is facing? • Race in European Political Science o Are we teaching through an intersectional lens? How are we applying this approach? o How can race be useful to explore gendered challenges in the discipline? 3. Online Teaching, remote work and the impact of Covid-19 • Teaching and learning o How has the global pandemic impacted our teaching and learning? o How have we adapted to the increased use of online environments and tools? o What methods have been used to prepare for the academic year? o Was training and support offered to navigate online teaching? • Working from home o What are the gendered implications of working from home? o How has disadvantage and inequality been created? o Are their examples of best practices / positive experiences? o How will this working environment impact our teaching and research careers? 4. Removing Gender Studies in Europe: • How have Gender Studies become a political threat? • How does the removal of teaching Gender Studies restrict the right to freedom of expression? In what ways does the restriction impact teaching and research? • What are the next steps in this fight for teaching rights and freedoms?