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An evaluation has been carried out into the position and standard of Women‚s
Studies and Gender Research in Finland during 1995-2001. The evaluation was
conducted by an international evaluation panel. The report was published in
September. The evaluation shows that the development of Women‚s Studies
in Finland has been successful.
However, the position of women‚s history seemed to be problematic. Considering
both the projects funded by the Academy of Finland and the doctoral dissertations
in Women's Studies, the discipline of history ranks second (after the social
sciences). Between 1995 and 2001, fifteen dissertations in women‚s/gender
history were submitted. There is a recruitment of highly qualified feminist
historians. However, scholars in women‚s/gender history are not visibly
present on Women‚s Studies units or history department. The evaluation
panel concludes that the discipline of history seems to have been unable to
include and integrate their competence in the faculty.
Women‚s/gender history evaluated by the panel got an encouraging judgement.
According to the panel "most of the research is of high quality; many scholars
are active in a Nordic context and also in a broader international context,
publishing in English as well as in domestic languages. All are familiar with
the international theoretical discussions, capable with research methodology,
and many have also given valuable contributions to theory developments.
The panel gave several detailed recommendations to the Academy of Finland, the
Ministry of Education, the universities, the research institutes and the Council
of Equality. One of the recommendations was openly targeted to historians: "Mainstream
university departments need earmarked professorships and postdoctoral positions
with gender orientation. One field where that is especially appropriate in Women‚s
History.
Women‚s Studies and Gender Research in Finland. Evaluation Report. Publications
of the Academy of Finland 8/02. Helsinki 2002. (Members of the Evaluation Panel:
Prof. emerita Liisa Rantalaiho (chairperson), prof. emerita Joan Acker, prof.
Anna Jónasdóttir, prof. Kari Melby, prof. Ebba Witt-Brattström.
Coordinator pol.lic. Solveig Bergman). Report can be read at: www.aka.fi/publications
-compiled by Pirjo Markkola
(pirjo.markkola @uta.fi)