ESPAnet – ERC CAPABLE workshop for doctoral students & early career researchers

16 – 17 November 2023, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands

Gender inequalities in work and care are some of the most persistent social inequalities of the 21st century. These inequalities are often not easily alleviated by social policy, with policies sometimes leading to new inequalities or the exacerbation of existing ones. This workshop focuses on gender inequalities, studying the complex and multifaceted relationships between social policy, gender, work and care. Gender, work, and care are interconnected elements of multiple social policy fields (e.g., care policies, family policies, employment policies, but also others), and deeply influenced by socio-cultural norms, economic and political structures, and governance. What do these inequalities look like and how are they experienced? What makes these inequalities so tenacious? How might social policies address them more effectively?

In this seminar, you are invited to present and discuss your work on these or similar topics, to do some deep-dive reading and thinking, and to connect with other early career researchers working on similar topics. We welcome a broad range of contributions dealing with any of the interrelationships between social policy, gender, work, and care, drawing on qualitative and/or quantitative research at any stage of the research process. Work can be both conceptual and/or empirical. Although comparative analyses are encouraged, single country, region or sector studies are also welcome.

Early career researchers (PhDs and postdocs) interested in attending are asked to contact Mara Yerkes (M.A.Yerkes@uu.nl) by 19 October 2023, briefly outlining your interest in the seminar and what you would like to present. The seminar is primarily face-to-face but limited online participation can be considered in exceptional cases. The seminar is free of charge. Limited financial assistance may be available to help cover travel costs if needed. Please enquire about this in your email. We welcome papers or chapters at all stages of your PhD or post-doc.