BIOMEDGEN

Biomedicalizing Gender. The Globalization of Sexual Science and the Redefinition of Gender Roles in Poland

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'Since 1989, gender roles have been in a state of continual flux and redefinition in Poland, reflective of ideological battles between the re-emergent Catholic Church, newly proclaimed scientific sex experts, and feminists and LGBT activists. This project is based on ethnographic fieldwork and analyses of written sources, and explores the relationship between scientific knowledge of sexuality and the construction of gender roles and stereotypes in contemporary Poland. I ask how the field of sexual science in particular has developed as a product of transnational flows of scientific knowledge (influence of North American knowledge of sexuality) , and in response to local debates about gender and sexuality. I seek to understand how the proliferation of discourses about sexuality that engage scientific language and ideas shapes gender roles in Poland. I will develop a theoretical framework based in medical anthropology and globalisation studies; study Polish and North American scientific knowledge of sexuality in order to track the sources of the knowledge referred to by my Polish informants; and examine cultural processes associated with the formation of local scientific knowledge of sexuality. The fellowship at Harvard University and the University of Warsaw will expand my field of expertise (medical anthropology, anthropology of globalisation in teaching and research; ethnographic fieldwork techniques and ethics) and facilitate obtaining habilitation (an obligatory next step after PhD in the Polish higher education system, required for conducting and supervising independent research projects and supervising PhD students) by allowing me collect data and develop theoretical framework for the habilitation book. Moreover, the fellowship will help to deepen the collaboration between the two host institutions, and allow the European host to use achievements of Harvard’s Social Anthropology program to extend the scope of its research and teaching.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

A European research project into scientific knowledge of sexuality aims to explore how the flow of such information to and within Poland contributes to shaping gender roles and sexuality models.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

In Poland, Catholicism is often perceived as the exclusive source of discrimination against women and sexual minorities (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (or, questioning) (LGBTQ)). The Biomedgen project is exploring the relationship between scientific knowledge of sexuality and the construction of gender roles and stereotypes in contemporary Poland.

This project assumes, contrary to popular thought, that Catholicism is not the only source of discrimination against women and LGBTQ groups. The approach posits that such a belief system cannot explain all mechanisms of inequality, and that science discourse, also employed by the Catholic Church itself, itself plays an important role.

Given that science is a vital source of knowledge and has significant authority in contemporary society, the EU-funded Biomedgen project seeks to better understand how the many and varied discourses on sexuality shape gender roles and sexuality models and stereotypes. The approach is particular to Poland, and is placed in the context of post-socialist transformation and European Union enlargement.

Working to collect data regarding scientific knowledge of sexuality in Poland and its global context, the aim is to develop a theoretical framework for applying the analysis of scientific knowledge of sexuality in Poland. Based on ethnographic fieldwork and analysis of written sources, the main objective is to answer a set of questions. Among these is the following: What models of gender roles emerge from scientific knowledge of sexuality, and how does its changing forms through biomedicalisation simultaneously reinforce and deconstruct existing cultural stereotypes on gender, heteronormative discourse, and concepts of women's and men's agency?

To date, the main project outcome is a preliminary analysis of North American and Polish scientific knowledge of sexuality through a multidisciplinary approach. This has been presented in the form of conference papers. Other successes include the construction of new syllabi as well as a textbook for use in newly designed classes.

Through ongoing work, research results and a deeper insight gained into the core subject will contribute to the development of a critical anthropological study of sexuality and medical anthropology in Poland. The significance of the project lies in its potential to better inform gender mainstreaming policies in areas such as sex education, sexual violence prevention and public health.