My Research Interests
My Statement on the #FeministAcademia Campaign
Building Positive Academia through a feminist lens
In academia, we often encounter environments shaped by competition, exclusion, and hierarchy that can hinder the flourishing of collaboration and care, inclusion, and networks. It’s time to challenge these norms and reimagine academia as a space that uplifts, nurtures, and empowers. Christa Sathish, a passionate advocate for feminist perspectives in her research and teaching, has created and launched this campaign to drive this transformation.
Through #FeministAcademia – a complement to the #EveryLittleActionCounts initiative (launched by Christa Sathish) and the #PositiveAcademia initiative (launched by Anne-Wil Harzing) – we enhance the development and nurturing of Positive Academia as a transformative vision for academia. This vision emphasises intersectionality, gender equality, collective action, empowerment and autonomy, and social justice. Feminism teaches us that power is not finite, success is not individual, and the stories of those on the margins hold profound wisdom to help us shaping a better future.
This campaign uses weekly fables to reimagine academia as a zoo – a place where structures, hierarchies, and behaviours can be critiqued and reshaped. I would like to take this opportunity to highlight two of my dear CYGNA sisters, Axèle Giroud and Martyna Śliwa. I had a wonderful discussion with them about the academic zoo and safari during our Cumberland Lodge event in 2024, which inspired me to walk the talk.
Our weekly allegories explore and promote feminist practices such as:
- Collaboration over competition: building networks of mutual support and dismantling hierarchies that privilege the few.
- Care as a core value: prioritising well-being and challenging the myth of endless productivity.
- Equity in opportunity: addressing systemic barriers to ensure every voice can grow and thrive.
- Reimagining power: moving toward collective, inclusive decision-making that empowers all.
Our campaign is not just about telling stories – it is a call to action. Each fable challenges us to reflect on the structures we inhabit and inspires us to imagine and build new ones. #FeministAcademia envisions an academic world where every contribution is valued, no one is excluded, and the future is shaped collectively.
Join us on this transformative journey. Together, we can weave a new web for academia – one strong enough to hold us all!
Scan to follow us or visit Positive Academia!
Vol 1. 2025
Week 19: The River of Knowledge in the Academic Zoo
In the Academic Zoo, a wide river flowed, known to all as the River of Knowledge. The fish living in it were considered the most knowledgeable creatures, as they had access to the river’s ever-flowing waters…
Week 18: The Empowered Owl
In the Academic Zoo, there was an owl who had long been revered for her wisdom. For years, she helped the other animals by providing them with answers and solving their problems…
Week 17: The Garden of Rest
In the Academic Zoo, there was a secret garden known only to a select few. It was called The Garden of Rest – a place where knowledge flowed freely and without boundaries…
Week 16: The Snake’s Trail
In the heart of the Academic Zoo, there was a narrow path known as the Snake Trail. It was the fastest route to the top level of the zoo…
Week 15: The Beavers’ Bridges
In the Academic Zoo, the beavers were known for their craftsmanship. They built intricate dams and sturdy bridges that connected every part of the zoo…
Week 14: The Monkey’s Maze
In the Academic Zoo, the monkeys faced a grand challenge: a complex maze filled with puzzles and traps. At the centre of the maze were golden bananas, symbols of success and recognition…
Week 13: The Fire Ants’ Colony
In a quiet corner of the Academic Zoo, a colony of fire ants worked tirelessly. Their contributions were immense…
Week 12: The Elephant in the Room
At the heart of the Academic Zoo stood a large elephant named Equity. She was impossible to miss…
Week 11: The Hedgehog’s Quills
In the Academic Zoo, the hedgehog was known for her sharp quills. She kept them raised at all times, wary of the larger animals who often pushed her aside or dismissed her ideas…
Week 10: The Frogs’ Chorus
In the Academic Zoo, the frogs gathered every evening to sing in harmony. Their chorus conveyed messages of fairness, collaboration, and change-making…
Week 9: The Chameleon’s Spectrum
In the Academic Zoo, the chameleon lived at the crossroads of many habitats. She could blend into the forest’s green, the savannah’s gold, and even the caves’ shadows…
Week 8: The Kangaroo’s Pouch
In the Academic Zoo, many animals struggled to balance their responsibilities – teaching, research, administration, family..
Week 7: The Rickety Ladder
In the Academic Zoo stood a rickety ladder that led to the most prestigious platform filled with exotic foods, cosy bedding and the best view of the whole zoo…
Week 6: The Tortoise's Trail
In the Academic Zoo, animals were judged not by their lasting contributions but by how quickly and grandly they performed…
Week 5: The Zookeeper’s Keys
In the Academic Zoo, the zookeepers controlled everything – the feeding schedules, the cages, and who moved between enclosures….
Week 4: The Hierarchy of Habitats
In the Academic Zoo, the animals lived in enclosures ranked by importance. The lions were at the top, their spacious lairs were filled with the warmth of sunlight…
Week 3: The Glass Aviary
The Academic Zoo’s aviary was a marvel; its glass ceilings gleamed in the sunlight…
Week 2: The Lion’s Roar
In the academic zoo, the lion’s roar served as the law…
Week 1: Introducing the rebuilding of the Academic Zoo
Welcome to our #FeministAcademia campaign!