We are a scientific research project based at the University of Louvain, in Belgium
Transparency
Funding
Our research project is made possible through the generous support of the Fund for Scientific Research (F.R.S.–FNRS), a Belgian research fund. Thanks to the support of the F.R.S.–FNRS, we have funding for the salaries of a postdoctoral researcher and a PhD student.
Deliverables of the research project
Here are the deliverables of the project: a PhD thesis, postdoctoral research, and the publication of scholarly articles. Beyond traditional academic outputs, we are exploring ways to create accessible and useful content for our participants and the wider community. While the specifics are still in development, our goal is to give back to our participants and make our research findings relevant and beneficial to those who have generously shared their insights and experiences.
Scale
During our 4 years of research, we aim to engage with a substantial and diverse array of feminist businesses. We plan to conduct in-depth interviews with approximately 100 of these businesses.
CIRTES, UCLouvain
Our research project is anchored at the University of Louvain (UCLouvain), in Belgium. Our research activities are further enriched by our affiliation with the Interdisciplinary Research Center for Work, State, and Society (CIRTES). CIRTES is an interdisciplinary research center which conducts research that incorporates multiple dimensions, including the interdisciplinary integration of socio-economics, social psychology, sociology, management, and law.
Meet the team
Prof. Florence Degavre
Meet Prof. Florence Degavre.
I am Florence Degavre, a socio-economist, professor and, since 2022, advisor to the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Policy at UCLouvain.
My teaching focuses on socio-economics and gender studies. My academic career is an exploration of the dynamics of social innovation in long-term care across Europe. My research focuses on the public policies, organisations and people who provide care, and draws on feminist and social economy theories. This approach stems from my own experiences and interests, from my care work to my involvement in feminist associations. I am particularly interested in understanding how organisations in the social economy or, more generally, those that claim to have a societal mission, challenge existing economic structures, thereby bringing about significant societal change. My work is deeply rooted in empirical research and I am committed to using transdisciplinary methods, often working closely with people in the field. My commitment to gender equality, social innovation, diversity and inclusion is a powerful driver of my work.
In my private life, you might find me tango dancing, cooking for friends or exploring the world of writing - but that's for another time!
Dr. Alena Sander
Meet Dr. Alena Sander.
I am Alena Sander, a social scientist, an invited university lecturer and university diversity advisor. I am also the co-founder and co-owner of FEIN, a feminist consulting agency.
I have once worked as a project manager in the so-called international development cooperation. Full of ideals and a good dose of white saviorism, I had embarked on a journey to save the world – and quickly realized that I would not be able to do so.
Disillusioned by my then-dream job, I took my white, western, passport-privileged self back to the University to write a feminist PhD thesis on the exact same thing that had bothered me while working in international cooperation: the persisting postcolonial power structures upon which the system continues to rely and through which inequalities are reproduced and perpetuated, especially in the field of women’s rights.
During this time, I co-founded FEIN, a consulting agency through which we intend to bridge the gap between feminist activism and organizations working in international cooperation. The research project therefore represents an opportunity to dig deeper into the challenges that I myself, as a feminist business owner, encounter on a daily basis.
Meet Natacha Bastiat-Jarosz.
Before embarking on my PhD, I spent five years nurturing "Daughters of Witches," an online platform dedicated to uplifting small, marginalized creators and artists. I've also organized pop-up markets, including "F*ck the Internet" in Berlin with Badassprints, a cultural haven for the local feminist and queer community.
This research project represents the culmination of my work and close connections within the feminist and queer creators' community. It's inspired by my lived experiences and the incredible individuals I've had the privilege to collaborate with.
I now call Brussels home, though I was born in the City of Light (Paris!) and have roots in German academia. In my 30s, I have become a Romantasy enthusiast, and an active and passionate member of the “Bookstagram” community.
Natacha Bastiat-Jarosz
We are a team of three feminist researchers, each with our unique set of privileges. Our team represents a diversity of identities, life experiences, and personal responsibilities, which enriches our understanding of the issues we address.These intersections of privilege and oppression can influence the way we approach our research topics.Our commitment to transparency and inclusivity guides our approach.
Accountability.
Our Research Approach
We approach research with feminism at its heart, emphasizing a "bottom-up" methodology. Simply put, the people most impacted by the issues we study are the foremost experts. Their insights and lived experiences are paramount to us.
Our Ongoing Commitment to Bias Awareness
Our research approach includes proactive measures to identify and address biases that may arise during our work. We engage in continuous, interactive discussions to examine potential biases. These discussions are an integral part of our research process, ensuring that we approach our subjects with the utmost openness and critical scrutiny. Your feedback and critiques? They're invaluable in this journey.
Nurturing inclusivity
Our goal is to ensure that every participant in our study feels as safe and included as possible, and genuinely heard.
Accessible Findings
Our research isn't locked away in academia. On this website, we present our findings in a way that's easy to understand. We bridge the gap between academic jargon and everyday language, ensuring our work is accessible to a broad audience. This site serves as a platform where you can explore our research in an approachable manner, making complex topics understandable to all, and we are exploring further venues to share our research in an accessible way.