Gender studies in Lund
Education and research in gender studies at the Department of Sociology, Lund University.
Gender studies is an interdisciplinary subject that fosters curiosity, critical thinking and engagement. Here, you will not only gain knowledge about the world, but also tools to understand and to change it.
The subject of gender studies explores why certain norms and inequalities persist over time, and how individuals and movements have struggled for justice and change. Gender studies will give you the skills and ability to analyse major issues in contemporary society:
- How do economic systems shape people's everyday lives?
- How are ideas about nation, identity and belonging formed?
- Why are questions of gender and sexuality once again at the centre of public debate?
Gender studies examines how power, norms and inequality shape our lives – and how society can be transformed.
We study issues of sex, gender, sexuality, class, ability and racism, and how these intersect with everything from everyday life and relationships to politics, economics and global conflicts.
As a student you will meet knowledgeable teachers who actively contribute to and shape research in gender studies, supported by strong local collaborations and international networks.
Education in gender studies
At the Division of Gender Studies in Lund, you will find a subject characterised by passion, curiosity and a strong commitment to both knowledge production and learning.
The subject of gender studies builds on experiences and knowledge that have emerged from historical struggles for rights, equality and social change. As a student, you will not only learn about these perspectives and movements, but also have the opportunity to contribute to knowledge development and social change yourself – through project work, internships, or your degree project.
Our English-language offer includes freestanding courses in gender studies at both undergraduate and master’s level, as well as the Master’s programme Social Studies of Gender. For Swedish-speaking students, we also offer a bachelor’s programme in gender studies.
The programme provides you with a broad methodological toolkit. You will learn to work both quantitatively and qualitatively, from studying interviews, documents, images, social media and archival material, to analysing large datasets and exploring issues related to AI and digitalisation. At the same time, you will develop the ability to think analytically, independently and creatively about issues such as power, democracy, violence, exploitation and structural inequality. These are key skills in a time marked by polarisation, rapid societal change and complex global challenges.
As a student, you will gain an in-depth understanding of how gender and sexuality shape politics, culture, education, working life, legislation and knowledge production, both in Sweden and globally.
You will learn about power, how power shapes society and how power can become a tool for change. You will learn about norms, and how norms surrounding sex, gender, sexuality, class, disability, and racism have changed over time. You will have the opportunity to delve deeper into some of the most pressing social issues of our time: how democratic backsliding affects people's rights and relationships, and how questions of gender, justice, global conditions, and technology shape the society of the future.
The Division of Gender Studies in Lund has strong connections to working life and society. The education provides knowledge and skills, practical experience and networks for those who want to contribute to a more equal and sustainable society. Our former students work in government agencies, municipalities and regions, civil society organisations, the cultural sector, business, think tanks, and the EU. Many work with analysis, investigations, project management, education, or policy development, while others create their own professional roles as consultants, public commentators, writers, or self-employed professionals. What they have in common is that they use their knowledge of power, change, and societal challenges to make a difference in working life and in society.
Courses in gender studies
Find freestanding courses in gender studies at both undergraduate and Master’s level here.
Master's programme in Gender Studies at lu.se
Would you like to study the interplay between gender, class, racialisation and sexuality, and engage with current societal issues from a critical perspective? On Lund University’s main website, you can learn more about the Mater's programme in Gender Studies.
Research
Gender studies is an interdisciplinary field that examines how gender, sexuality, power and inequality shape societies, relationships and people’s living conditions. The subject has pioneered in conceptualizing how gendered and sexual norms influence politics, the economy, culture, working life, education and knowledge production, and how such norms can be challenged and transformed.
Gender studies has developed key perspectives and concepts such as intersectionality, queer theory and feminist critiques of power and knowledge, as well as anti-racist, postcolonial and decolonial perspectives on global relations, labour and capital.
Research in the field shows how gender always interacts with, for example, sexuality, class, racism, disability and migration, and how different forms of inequality are created and reproduced. Through this research, gender studies provides new ways of understanding care, justice, democracy, the body, identity and social change in a global and changing world.