Proceedings: Global Conference on Gender and Politics (Part 2)

Date and Time: July 12, 2025, 3:35 PM (Duration: 74 minutes, 19 seconds)

Location: Seoul, South Korea (IPSA Conference)

 

Panel Introduction

Moderator: Professor Minh Go, Ewha Woman's University

Time: 00:09

Professor Minh Go began the panel by introducing the speakers. She mentioned that she would share their bios and the topics they would be discussing. She asked the audience to give a warm welcome to each speaker as she introduced them. 

 

Presentation 1: Navigating Between Activism and Academics

Speaker: Professor Shanin Huan, National Taiwan University

Time: 01:24

"I’ve chosen to discuss my experience navigating between activism and academia, which has defined my life for over 20 years.

In my earlier career, I didn’t focus on gender. I only became a feminist after joining Taiwan’s feminist movement. My dissertation was a comparative study of labor militancy in South Korea and Taiwan, reflecting my generation’s interest in labor politics during the late 80s and early 90s. Upon returning to Taiwan in the late 90s, I was invited by the Awakening Foundation—a pioneering feminist organisation—to support gender quotas. At the time, there were few feminist political scientists in Taiwan, so I lent my voice. What started as a short-term commitment turned into over 20 years with the foundation, eventually serving as its president.

My career has involved two roles: my paid position at National Taiwan University and my unpaid work with the foundation. For a time, I dedicated more effort to the latter. This dual role highlighted the tension between activism and academia. As an activist, you build coalitions by finding common ground among diverse groups. As a scholar, you strive to differentiate your work to make unique contributions. This requires switching between different modes of thinking.

Another challenge is self-criticism. As a scholar, you must critically assess policies you’ve advocated for, even when they don’t achieve the desired outcomes. This can be difficult when those policies are tied to your activist friends or involve delicate political situations. For example, during Taiwan’s legalization of same-sex marriage, feminists like me preferred a more progressive civil union option, as we critically view the institution of marriage. However, we remained silent to avoid giving ammunition to opponents. This raises questions about when and how to voice criticism.

Lastly, I’m concerned about the future of feminist scholarship in Taiwan. While women’s representation in academia has increased, feminist perspectives are fading. After I retire, I’m uncertain who will teach gender politics or if the department will hire another feminist scholar. This represents a crisis of representation in academia."

 

Presentation 2: A Guide to Think Tank Careers

Speaker: Dr. Ju Yung, Korean Women’s Development Institute (KWDI)

Time: 15:29

"After completing my PhD in political science in 2011, I was fortunate to secure a tenure-track position in a U.S. political science department. Later, I pursued a two-year postdoc at the University of Tokyo in gender studies. As my postdoc ended, I joined the Korean Women’s Development Institute (KWDI), a government-sponsored think tank, where I’ve been ever since.

Korea has a unique system of 26 government-sponsored think tanks covering various fields, including labor and health. KWDI is one of them, focusing on gender issues.

 

Working in a think tank offers several advantages:

Policy Impact: Our research directly influences government policy through collaborative projects.

Teamwork: Unlike academia, where individual research is common, think tanks emphasize collaboration.

Fast Pace: Projects follow a strict annual cycle, starting in January and concluding by December.

However, Korean think tanks are hierarchical and bureaucratic, unlike the non-hierarchical perception some might have.

 

Two experiences stand out:

Contributing to Korea’s 1325 National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security, which I could only do through KWDI’s government connections.

Leveraging KWDI’s 40-year network in gender governance across Asia.

For career development, I advise engaging with government and civil society whenever possible. In gender politics, collaboration between academia, government, and activism is traditional and invaluable."

 

Presentation 3: Publishing Research on Gender and Politics

Speaker: Professor Jennifer Piscopo, Royal Holloway University of London

Time: 26:17

"As co-editor of the European Journal of Politics and Gender, I’d like to share advice on publishing, especially for early career scholars.

Key Advice for Journal Articles:

Less is More: Focus on one clear argument, not a condensed version of your entire dissertation.

Single Contribution: Make a distinctive contribution to a specific question without overstating it.

Beyond the Case: Don’t rely solely on the uniqueness of your case; connect it to broader theoretical or empirical insights.

Engage Recent Literature: Ensure your literature review is up-to-date and relevant to your specific topic.

 

The Review Process:

Desk Rejects: We check for completeness, a unified story, and original data or analysis.

Peer Review: We aim for three reviewers covering different aspects (e.g., case expertise, methods, theory).

Rejections: If revisions are too extensive for a revise-and-resubmit, we may reject, but this doesn’t mean the work can’t be published elsewhere.

Reviewing for Journals:

Please consider reviewing when asked; it’s a reciprocal part of the academic community. Editors remember those who contribute."

 

Presentation 4: Non-Academic Career Development

Speaker: Kavita Ramdas, Global Leader on Gender and Racial Equity

Time: 38:07

"I’ve had a non-academic career but spent considerable time in academic settings. My upbringing in India, during a time when the country stood in solidarity with anti-apartheid and Palestinian liberation movements, shaped my global perspective. This political context influenced my sense of responsibility to the Global South and my commitment to gender justice.

At Mount Holyoke College, I saw women in leadership roles, which contrasted with Princeton, where women were often in secondary positions. This reinforced the importance of representation, though it’s not sufficient on its own.

In my career, I’ve learned that you can bring feminism and activism into any space—whether in philanthropy, the private sector, or humanitarian work. It requires resilience, as you’ll face resistance when challenging inequality. Building community and supporting others who speak out is crucial.

In recent years, I’ve faced challenges in organizations that claimed to support justice but faltered on issues like Palestine. This has made me more resolute in my beliefs. We must speak out against injustices, even in spaces that claim to uphold democratic values."

 

Q&A Session

Time: 50:29

 

Question 1: "Can you say something about predatory journals?"

Jennifer Piscopo: "Don’t submit without consulting advisors. Be wary of pay-to-play open access journals, which may lack rigorous review."

 

Question 2: "What is the time between research and policy implementation at KWDI?"

Ju Yung: "It’s almost immediate, as our research is government-sponsored and tied to policy needs."

 

Question 3: "How much feedback do you provide on rejections?"

Jennifer Piscopo: “We provide at least a paragraph, especially for junior scholars, to help improve the work.”

 

Question 4: "How are journals adapting to technological changes?"

Jennifer Piscopo: "Many are forming read-and-publish agreements with institutions to make work more accessible without compromising quality."

 

Question 5: "What is your policy on generative AI?"

Jennifer Piscopo: "Authors must disclose AI use, but reviewers cannot use AI to write reviews due to ethical concerns."

 

Speaker: Professor Minh Go

Time: 1:06:43

Professor Minh Go expressed her gratitude to all the panelists, the chair, and the keynote speaker. She thanked everyone who travelled to Seoul for the event. She gave a special thank you to her research assistants, We Hi Young Yoo and Soky Park. She mentioned that the group photo would be shared with everyone and wished them an enjoyable conference.