About the Centre for Gender Research

The Centre for Gender Research was established in 2003 and has, according to instructions from the Vice-Chancellor, a commitment to carry out research and teaching within the field of gender studies, which includes different perspectives on sex and gender, as well as critical perspectives on how sex and gender interact with other dimensions of power. The Centre shall co-operate with all of the University's research area committees, faculty committees and concerned departments. The Centre is run by a board and below the board by a irector.

Director for the Centre for Gender Research is Helena Wahlström Henriksson.
Vice Director is Jenny Björklund. 

History
The Centre for Gender Research has existed for more than 30 years as an independent research unit within Uppsala University. In 1982 the Centre for Women Researchers and Women's Studies became an independent research unit within Uppsala university. Then, as today, the three cornerstones of the Centre was: research, education and third stream activities. The tradition of inviting guest researchers and guest lecturers from abroad, and thus maintaining an international and inspiring environment, was established from the very beginning.

Mona Eliasson was the first director of the Centre, 1982-1990. From 1990 until 2003 the Centre had five different directors; Eva Heggestad, Denise Malmberg, Gullög Nordquist,  Valerie DeMarin­is, and, once again, Mona Eliasson. Margaretha Fahlgren became director in 2003, when it became the Centre for Gender Research. During her time as director the Centre grew from a small organisation with about six researchers, to an international research environment and Centre of Excellence, with about 30 researchers and other employees. Margaretha Fahlgren resigned as director in July 2011, succeeded by Anita Hussénius who was director 2011-2018. Helena Wahlström Henriksson is director of the Centre for Gender Research since 1 July 2018. 

A chair in gender studies was appointed in 2016 and Gabriele Griffin became Uppsala University's first professor of gender studies. Also in 2016, the Centre received degree-awarding powers on research level and admitted its first doctoral students. 

Research
At the Centre for Gender Research, research is conducted within many different areas (see our research pages). Currently the Centre has six active research groups: Education and Science, Family / Kinship, Technologization of the Everyday, Humanimal Studies, Queer Studies och Gender and Culture. There interdisciplinary research groups gather researchers from different areas but with similar interests and directions. Researchers at the Centre also do research in many other research areas. 

The researchers at the Centre have their backgrounds in various disciplines whitin the humanities, social sciences, natural/technological sciences and medicine. Such an interdisciplinary foundation contributes to a research environment where both organisational and teoretical traditions are challenged and developed. 

Education
Gender studies is an interdisciplinary subject and therefore the Centre offers a broad educational base. Some of the more significant areas of focus at undergraduate level are: body/embodiment and sexualities, the aestethic field, natural sciences, and masculinities. At undergraduate level the Centre offers three free-standing courses (which can be combined for a Bachelor's degree): Genusvetenskap A, Genusvetenskap B and Genusvetenskap C. These courses are given in Swedish.  

We also have a Master's programme in gender studies. The programme is taught in English. 

Since 2016 the Centre also offers a PhD programme. PhD positions are advertised on Uppsala University's and the Centre's websites.