Gender Studies Collection
Recently Published
Forthcoming Books
Collection Editors:
Dr Jan Etienne & Dr Reham ElMorally
Our Vision for the Collection
The Gender Studies collection presents stories of gender and intersectionality as course readings to aid students in analyzing gender identity and patriarchal forces from the perspective of those with a determination to see an end to gender discrimination in its various manifestations.
Women’s rights are central to the collections’ focus, where critical gendered issues, grounded in lived experience are explored. The collection is embedded in community and brings to light experiences of individuals at the sharp end of activism, including stories of struggle, demonstrating the urgency for change in various gendered settings in diverse places around the world. Ultimately the collection brings the stories of women who are on the margins of society, into the mainstream.
In shaping this collection, the theoretical frameworks of critical discourse theories, Global South perspectives, and critical approaches to international relations are fundamental. By doing so, we aim to challenge established norms, question dominant narratives, and pave the way for transformative learning and scholarship.
We are particularly keen on works that illuminate the often “hidden” interconnections between macro-level world politics and their micro-level manifestations on individual lives. By the same token, the collection seeks to spotlight how grassroots activism can reverberate in the corridors of global politics, driving positive systemic change.
We seek authors with inspiring stories of innovative practice and who write through a gendered feminist lens, addressing and challenging interrelated sexist, racist, misogynistic, transphobic, and homophobic agendas. We particularly want to commission works which bring to life the stories of real people, aimed at developing and strengthening global communities. Our collection is not merely an archive of stories; it is a clarion call to authors, activists, and academics who, through their rigorous work, reveal the relationship between the places we live and individual narratives.
About the Collection Editors
Jan Etienne is a feminist theorist and a Fellow of Birkbeck, University of London, UK, where she earned her PhD in Gender, Social Policy, and Education.
She is an activist researcher and Chair of the Womanism, Activism, Higher Education Research Network, working alongside community workers on the frontline of activist feminist research.
Dr Etienne has taught on a range of higher education programmes including courses such as Social Justice, Social Policy, Approaches to Social Conflict and Globalisation and Change in Psychosocial Studies.
She is author of several publications including Learning in Womanist Ways; Narratives of First-Generation African Caribbean Women (2016) (IOE Press) and Communities of Activism: Black Women, Higher Education, and the Politics of Representation (2020) (UCL Press)
Reham ElMorally is a dedicated academic, changemaker, and advocate for marginalised communities. She currently serves as the Head of Public Policy and Research at Egypt’s first-ever Think Tank, Entlaq Holdings, and is an Assistant Professor of Public Policy and Administration at the School of Global Affairs and Public Policy at the American University in Cairo. Reham’s work is rooted in her unwavering commitment to gender equality, political freedom, and societal transformation, consistently striving to amplify the voices of the silenced through advocacy, research, and education.
As a thought leader in public policy, Reham leads innovative research projects and strategic initiatives at Entlaq Holdings, addressing critical issues impacting Egypt’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and broader social landscape. Her work focuses on creating sustainable ecosystems that foster inclusivity, equity, and growth.
Reham also collaborates closely with NGOs, raising awareness about sexual harassment, domestic violence, and the enduring impact of patriarchal Personal Status Laws in Egypt and the Middle East. She champions tangible actions, including creating safer public spaces for women and marginalized groups.
In her academic role, Reham transforms classrooms into sanctuaries of support and empowerment. Her teaching philosophy centres on equipping students with the tools to challenge societal norms, advocate for social justice, and drive meaningful change.
Reham earned her PhD in International and Rural Development from the University of Reading and is the author of the book Recovering Women’s Voices: Islam, Citizenship, and Patriarchy in Egypt. Her work has been featured in leading journals, including the Cambridge Journal of Education and the Journal of Further and Higher Education.
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