Reading the world through gendered lens: a methodological reflection
This interdisciplinary course explores gender issues through diverse theoretical and methodological perspectives, spanning sociology, education, communication, law, economics, and philosophy. Participants will examine the historical evolution of the concept of gender, feminist research methodologies, critical pedagogies, legal frameworks on gender equality, and economic gender disparities. Topics include gender stereotypes in media, gender rights, and women's economic empowerment. The course also introduces phenomenological approaches to gender and offers tools for critically analyzing visual representations and cultural narratives. By the end, students will have a deeper understanding of feminist research and the complexities of equality and non-discrimination.
- ECTS: 2
- Total hours: 16
- Language: English
- Mode of participation: In person and online
- Course code: INV.TRSVL.32
- Category: INTERDISCIPLINARY PATHS
How To Apply
Contact for registration: dottorati@unimib.it
- OPENING of registrations: 15 Dec. 2025
- CLOSING of registrations: 12 Jan. 2026
The seminars and lectures will explore gender issues through a variety of approaches and perspectives.
The first seminar will focus on the concept of gender, tracing its historical evolution and examining its implications in cultural, social, and political analyses. Feminist research methodologies will be introduced and critically discussed throughout the session.
The second seminar will concentrate on the (trans)formative quality of feminist critical-dialogic pedagogies and on the pedagogy of discomfort/difference, from the perspective of adult education, identity formation, and a practical theory of learning in both formal and informal contexts.
The third seminar will analyze the evolution of legal frameworks concerning gender equality, with particular emphasis on constitutional principles and their interpretation in constitutional case law and court rulings. The session will also address gender-based economic inequalities, exploring their causes and highlighting their negative impact on productivity and economic growth.
The fourth seminar will offer a brief introduction to phenomenology and its application to gender. It will show how the concepts of “sex” and “gender” can be fruitfully examined and reinterpreted through phenomenological notions such as “physical body” and “lived body,” “body schema” and “body image,” “ownership,” and “agency.” The second part of the seminar will address issues related to discrimination through images, from the disciplinary perspective of communication design. Participants will be equipped with tools to deconstruct gender stereotypes and visual symbols prevalent in contemporary cultural systems.
By the end of the course, participants will have gained a solid understanding of feminist research methodologies and a nuanced perspective on the limits of the principles of equality and non-discrimination.
Brief list of topics: Gender and its meaning; Gender stereotypes in the media; Gender-related rights; Scientific research and women's economic empowerment.
The course integrates insights from the following disciplines: sociology, education, communication, law, economics, and philosophy.
- 15/01/2026 2.30 pm - 6.30 pm CET “Introduction to the concept of Gender and to feminist research methods”. Sveva Magaraggia (with Carmen Leccardi)
- 22/01/2026 2.30 pm - 6.30 pm CET “Biographic and cooperative research methods as transformative dialogic practices for gendered identities”. Laura Formenti
- 29/01/2026 9.30 am - 1.30 pm CET (online) “The long way of equality: from case law to economic inequalities”. Costanza Nardocci (with Graziella Romeo)
- 05/02/2026 9.30 am - 1.30 pm CET “Gender identities: phenomenology and visual culture”. Francesca Forlè (with Francesca Casnati)
In presence and online
A short essay (2-5 pages) on a topic related to one of the lessons.
4 - Quality Education; 5 - Gender Equality; 16 - Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Name of the faculty:
Sveva Magaraggia, Associate professor of Sociology of Culture, Dept. of Sociology and Social Research, University of Milan-Bicocca & Carmen Leccardi, Emerita professor of Sociology of Culture, Dept. of Sociology and Social Research, University of Milano-Bicocca (coordinators).
Francesca Casnati, Post-Doctoral Fellow, Dept. of Design, Politecnico of Milan;
Francesca de Vecchi, Associate professor, Faculty of Philosophy, University Vita-Salute San Raffaele;
Francesca Forlè, Lecturer, Faculty of Philosophy, University Vita-Salute San Raffaele;
Laura Formenti, Full professor, Dept. of Human Sciences for Education, University of Milan-Bicocca;
Costanza Nardocci, Associate professor, Dept. of Italian and Supranational Public Law, University of Milan;
Graziella Romeo, Associate professor, Dept. of Law, University Luigi Bocconi;
The professors are part of the Inter-University Research Centre ‘Gender Cultures’, based at the University of Milan.
Contact for registration: dottorati@unimib.it