http://www.nikk.uio.no/ 

Men’s Studies and gender equality research on men has a tradition in most of the Nordic countries and the field has been developed in various ways through different periods in each country. It began in Denmark in the 1970s, all the 1980s, Sweden dominated the field. In the 1990s, most of the Men’s Studies-related activities have been in Norway and Sweden. During the last years some steps have also been taken to promote Men’s Studies in Iceland and Finland.

In 1989, Norwegian researchers created a Network for Studies of Men which has since been a central promoter of the field. The network publishes a newsletter and edits a website. It has recently published an overview of relevant publications within Men’s Studies in Norway (in Norwegian Mannsforskning i Norge). This publication demonstrates the growth of the field despite small resources. It can be ordered from the Norwegian Research Council.

At the University of Karlstad in Sweden, researchers are building a database on researchers and research projects in the field of Men’s Studies in the Nordic countries.

In addition, all the Nordic countries have a contact person for Men’s Studies.

Men’s Studies Coordinator

The growing demand for research-based knowledge and information on men and masculinities was the primary impetus for the recent establishment of the new position a Nordic Co-ordinator for Men’s Studies. With this position, the Nordic countries have proven themselves as pioneers in the Men’s Studies field. One can hope that the region will continue to play a key role in promoting and enhancing this area of study and inquiry on an international scale.

The primary goal of the co-ordinator position is to advance Men’s Studies in the region. This includes the need to strengthen the links between Men’s Studies and Women’s Studies, integrate Men’s Studies with relevant areas of Women’s Studies and Gender Research, and contribute to co-operation in the Nordic countries and the adjacent areas, throughout Europe and in other parts of the world.

The Co-ordinator will also collaborate with the Secretariat of the Nordic Council of Ministers in carrying out the research-related aspects of the NCM’s ”Plan of Action” on men and equality. The Plan of Action is part of the activities for implementing the co-operation programme to NCM, running from 1995-2000. Among other things, the plan proposes the creation of expert groups, development of new areas of co-operation and evaluation, book projects, conferences and networks. The Co-ordinator will be based at NIKK from 1999-2001.

 On the global level

IASOM, The International Association for Studies of Men is an independent researchers’ initiative aimed at developing Men’s Studies on the global level. Through an international discussion in 1993, it was decided that IASOM would be based on a revised version of the Nordic network model. The IASOM platform supports studies of men in gender-egalitarian, pro-feminist or critical perspective, as well as ”male-positive” focus. IASOM emphasizes dialogue and diverse research based on this platform. IASOM publishes a newsletter and have its own website, edited in Norway. More information about IASOM can be found on its website: www.ifi.uio.no/~eivindr/iasom

International publications are important for the new field. IASOM supports the new journal Men and Masculinities published by Sage with Michael Kimmel as editor.

Other important international tasks for the new Co-ordinator include cooperation with the new EU Profeminist Men’s Network as well as other groups and networks on regional and international levels. Øystein Gullvåg Holter  

Contact persons for Men’s Studies 

in the Nordic countries Centre for Women’s Studies

in Umeå

Umeå University

SE-901 87 Umeå

tel: +46 90 786 6043

www.umu.se/umu/kvf/  

Centre for Feminist Research

in Uppsala

University of Uppsala

St. Johannesgatan 21

SE-753 12 Uppsala

tel: +46 18 471 2275

www.uu.se/Adresser/Directory/deps/SI15.html 

Centre for Women’s Studies

and Research in Örebro

Department of Social Science

Örebro University

SE-701 82 Örebro

tel: +46 19 30 30 55

The Faroe Islands

Att: Malan Marnersdóttir

University of the Faroe Islands

Handan Á 5

FO-100 Tórshavn

tel: +298 315302

fax: +298 318929

Centre for Women’s Studies

in Linköping

Linköping University

SE-581 83 Linköping

tel: +46 13 282174

Gender Studies in Linköping

Linköping University

SE-581 83 Linköping

Department of Gender and Technology in Luleå

Luleå University of Technology

SE-971 87 Luleå

tel: +46 920 910 00

Centre for Women’s Studies

in Lund

Lund University

P.O. Box 117

SE-221 00 Lund

tel: +46 46 222 4059/7624/9778

Centre for Women’s Studies

in Stockholm

Stockholm University

SE-106 91 Stockholm

tel: +46 8 16 22 22

Centre for Women’s Studies

in Sundsvall

Mid Sweden University

SE-851 70 Sundsvall

tel: +46 60 18 86 00