2:04 p.m.
Thank you, Inka, for info about this workshop - I wish I could go!
Here is some info about coming network activities. We will focus on Zoom workshops for the
spring and arrange a network meeting in person for the fall. The program now includes both
workshops on writing, applications, and planning the network meeting. Hope to see many of
you there!
The date for the applications workshop will be announced shortly, and I will send out
calendar invitations for the different dates.
Looking forward to seeing you on Zoom!
Best,
Catrine
Seminar program LGBTQ+-H-L network spring of 2025
February 28th, 13.15 -15.00 CET
Joint writing time on Zoom and short research presentations
We meet on Zoom for joint writing time. We start by shortly introducing what we are
currently working on and if we have any issues with our research that we want to discuss
with the others. At the end we talk again shortly to summarize how our process is going
and help each other with any issues that have been occurring.
Late March (TBA)
Workshop on writing applications for LGBTQ+ projects
We meet on Zoom for a workshop on what to consider when applying for funding for LGBTQ+
and closely related projects. Some of the principal investigators of the projects in the
Forte call that initiated the network or other LGBTQ+ projects will present their
experience on this and we will jointly discuss issues of strategy, pragmatism and
preserving theoretical and ethical critical perspectives in this process. We will also
discuss each other's applications for those who want feedback.
April 24th, 8.30 - 10.00 CET
Workshop for planning network meeting of 2025
We meet on Zoom for a workshop where the coordination group and other interested members
discuss plans for the network meeting of 2025. We brainstorm ideas for themes and possible
key-notes as well as plan dates and schedules roughly.
May 12th, 13.15 - 15.00 CET
Joint writing time on Zoom and short research presentations
We meet on Zoom for joint writing time. We start by shortly introducing what we are
currently working on and if we have any issues with our research that we want to discuss
with the others. At the end we talk again shortly to summarize how our process is going
and help each other with any issues that have been occurring.
Från: Söderström, Inka M via Hbtqhl <hbtqhl(a)lists.sunet.se>
Skickat: den 4 februari 2025 16:05
Till: hbtqhl(a)lists.sunet.se
Ämne: [Hbtqhl] Workshop about queerness and social work in Finland
Hi everybody!
If someone is interested to travel to northern Finland in May, I am organizing a workshop
there about queerness and social work together with doctoral researcher Emilia Brusila.
Welcome to submit abstracts before 15.3.2025! The language of the workshop is both Finnish
and English. It is organized as part of the Social work research days in Rovaniemi
15.-16.5.2025, which gathers together social work researchers, students, and teachers in
Finland. The general conference program will be mainly in Finnish, but also some keynotes
and workshops in English and some workshops in Swedish.
Info about the conference:
https://www.ulapland.fi/FI/Tapahtumia/Sosiaalityon-tutkimuksen-paivat-2025
And our workshop:
Queerness and vulnerability: Norms, rights, and social work possibilities
Workshop leaders:
Emilia Brusila, social work university teacher & PhD researcher, University of Lapland
(emilia.brusila@ulapland.fi<mailto:emilia.brusila@ulapland.fi>)
Inka Söderström, social work university teacher, University of Helsinki
(inka.soderstrom@helsinki.fi<mailto:inka.soderstrom@helsinki.fi>)
Working group language: Finnish, English
The diversity of sexuality, gender, and relationships affects all people, but societal
norms often limit how these identities and relationships are recognized and valued. Norms
around sexuality, gender and relationships can place individuals, families and communities
who differ from these norms in a vulnerable position, with multiple social consequences.
This diversity is often referred to as LGBTQIA+ identities, queerness, or sexual, gender
and relationship minorities. International social work research has identified that
strengthening knowledge and skills to improve the situation of LGBTQIA+ people is a key
issue. Studies have addressed issues such as the experiences of LGBTQIA+ people in social
services, the everyday lives of queer families, the challenges faced by LGBTQIA+ youth in
child protection, and the wounding effects of normative mindsets such as hetero-, cis and
mono-normativity. In Finland, research, education and professional debate on these topics
are still limited, which undermines the capacity of social workers to respond to the needs
of queer people and to promote human rights-based work. Without comprehensive research,
the specific service needs of LGBTQIA+ service users and the processes that place them in
vulnerable positions cannot be adequately identified.
In recent years, Finnish LGBTQIA+ social work research has begun to grow, but the need for
knowledge sharing and networking remains significant. This workshop provides a platform
for increasing the visibility of research and practice in the field of LGBTQIA+ social
work. The workshop invites researchers, students, practitioners, NGO actors and
experts-by-experience to share knowledge and discuss the links between queerness and
social work.
The workshop welcomes submissions on topics such as:
* The experiences of LGBTQIA+ service users and professionals in social services
* Norm-critical social work
* Specific issues related to queer families and youth
* The diversity of gender and sexuality in social work education
* Creative approaches to LGBTQIA+ social work
The workshop encourages a variety of forms of participation: presentations of research
results, descriptions of research in progress, contributions from experts-by-experience or
creative presentations such as performances. The presentations can be in Finnish or
English and the discussion will take place in the language of the presentation.
Best regards, Inka Söderström
Inka Söderström
Sosiaalityön yliopisto-opettaja
Valtiotieteellinen tiedekunta
Helsingin yliopisto
Inka Söderström
Social work university teacher
Faculty of social sciences
University of Helsinki
inka.soderstrom@helsinki.fi<mailto:inka.soderstrom@helsinki.fi>