Ups and downs: The development of gender studies in the Icelandic context

Abstract

Gender studies as an organized and independent line of study was established at the University of Iceland in 1996. The article gives an overview of the development of the study program and its relations to the academic community. We discuss the institutionalization of gender studies, from the grass root level to a formalized part of the academic structure in terms of academic posts, budget, graduate programs and research funding. Finally, we discuss gender studies’ relations to society and its utilization. Institutionalization of the study line is a prerequisite for its growth. However, many have pointed out that institutionalization is double edged, both when it comes to gender studies as a study program and gender studies as a tool in organized equality work. Institutionalization can be at the cost of feminist activism, which is an integral part of gender studies. The development of the gender studies program shows that there have been ups and downs; the studies are accepted up to a certain point and at the same time it has stayed true to its activist roots. The article argues that the conflicts concurrent with institutionalization, to be both within and outside of the system, have not made the gender studies program less critical. On the contrary, the criticism directed at gender studies both from within the academic community and society in general shows that gender studies as an independent study program has preserved its radicalness and power to have an effect on society, which are its main signs of vitality.