Profile of the Professorship

Sociology of Gender Relations

We research gender relations with qualitative-interpretative methods and a theory-generative interest. We understand gender as a process category embedded in relations of domination and power, produced in interactions ("doing gender"). We also understand gender as a structural category that, in its entanglement with other categories such as social origin, sexual orientation, age, "race", and physical ability, has an intersectional, inequality-relevant effect.

In light of changes in social policy, gainful employment, and family, we are interested in the erosion of the heteronormative, gender-unequal breadwinner model, for example with regard to changing concepts of masculinity and romantic love relationships, and the consequences of this for inequality. We investigate the ambivalent inclusion and exclusion of families that do not conform to heteronormativity and binary gender, especially given the possibilities offered by new reproductive technologies and equality-oriented developments in family law. From a temporal perspective, we look at the gendering of life courses and life phases. We use collective data collection methods, such as couple and family interviews, among others.

Our teaching is closely connected to our empirical research. We impart knowledge in the field of social science gender research and are engaged in the training of qualitative methods.

Research and Teaching Focuses

• Gender research / inter*, trans*, and queer studies
• Sociology of labor (gainful employment and care work)
• Social inequality (precarity of life arrangement)
• Diverse families, sociology of couples and close relationships
• Gendered temporalities and phases of life
• Sociology of the family and parenthood
• Sociology of the body and biopolitics
• Sociological theory, including theories of recognition
• Interpretative methods of social research, couple and family interviews