Description
By promoting partnerships and mobility between Latvia and Norway, the project seeks to increase institutional cooperation through research in feminist/gender studies. The overall objective is to revive academic and public interest in feminist and gender theories in connection to the current social reality and European political culture, to add new interdisciplinary dimensions to the already existing research mainstream, and to shed light on women’s political and public activity by shaping a dialogue between various disciplines and cultures. Goals: (1) to describe the women movement in Latvia in connection with the theoretical concepts and social practice; (2)to discuss the women discourse and social control, gender identity and national identity, relationships of partnership in creativity (Aspazija un Rainis, Z. Mauriņa un K. Raudive); (3) to study several female writers and playwrights in Latvia and in Norway in the decennia around the turn of the 20th century; (4) to analyze the influence of the gender affiliation of Latvian ethnic minorities on the national identity and on the creation of the ethical cultural element; (5) to create the dialogue among various stakeholders of the gender equality politics in Latvia, using the vocabulary of the post-colonial paradigm. Outcomes: strengthened research capacity in Latvia and increased application of research results through research cooperation between Norway and Latvia; increased public awareness of the gender, power and culture related issues that leads to creation of a better society for all groups. New tools for mainstreaming civic initiatives on gender politics in the decision-making processes are worked out; intensified gender research and education in institutions of higher education of Latvia; the gender dimension becoming a significant part of study courses in BA, MA, PhD and lifelong learning programmes in Latvia.
Summary of project results
Project aimed to revive academic and public interest to feminist and gender theories in connection to current social reality and European political culture. The explanatory dictionary of academic feminist and gender terms and agreed terminology was created during this project. Also vocabulary of the post-colonial paradigm and the explanatory frame was created. Three radio interviews/debates as public forum for all major stakeholders were conducted to debate on topics like gender equality legislation, policy documents, etc. A "Glossary of Feminist Terms. Culture Feminism" has been published in the publishing house "Zinātne" - it is a first publication of this kind in the Latvia n language Achieved results will have long-term impact on regional level, but due to the fact, that most of publications were in Latvian, bilateral cooperation was missing at the end. At least 20 publications in Latvian were published in the book dedicated to Aspazija. Information in English is limited and the results of research can not be fully spread internationally. Mandatory outputs are achieved. Project results can be considered as base for future research in gender field.
Summary of bilateral results
Bilateral outcome of the project is the discovery of how many European sources of inspiration were shared between some prominent Latvian and Norwegian women writers (Aspazija and H.Garborg) and how both countries were connected to the same European and continental networks (women creating modern postcolonial democracy was crucial in both countries). Project carried out three bilateral initiatives related to partner visits. Possibility of new research project have been discussed but there is no evidence on actual work. Building partnership with Norwegian researchers was not an easy task at the beginning. Partners pulled out of the project due to small size of the research. After the amendments in the project proposal new researcher was involved, but proportion of research work was significantly changed as well leaving Norwegian colleagues with less work to be done. Projects' main emphasis was on Latvian writer Aspazija.