The Centre for Gender Studies, European Humanities Univ. (Lithuania), Almira Ousmanova, Tania Arcimovich (Erfurt Univ., Germany), Olga Plakhotnik (Univ. Greifswald), and Antonina Stebur (Women in Tech program, EHU , Univ. der Künste Berlin)

Time: 14.-15.05.2025
Venue: Univ. Vilnius – and virtual space
Proposals by: 01.02.2025

The conference focuses on the socio-political dimensions of emotions, examining how they are deeply embedded within the interplay of gender, technology, and capital. Emotions are not neutral; they are shaped by political, economic, and social contexts, influencing how we re/act, on our ability to co-operate, solidarize, or atomise. Drawing on capital theory, we explore how different forms of individual capital—financial, human, emotional, symbolic, social, and others—impact emotional and gender perspectives. The triad of ‚gender, technologies, and capital‘ is central and interdependent, forming complex dynamics.
The concept of emotional capitalism—a dual process in which emotional and economic systems influence each other, particularly within gendered labour and the IT industry—plays a significant role here. Emotional capital is often built upon gendered expectations, rendering emotions a site of exploitation and productivity, and making technologies tools for perpetuating gendered inequality and injustice. Exploring these complex dynamics—between the emancipatory potential and the exploitation of technologies—the conference will investigate how emotions, capital, and gender interact within technological contexts. It will also examine feminist theories that frame emotions as tools for resistance and collective agency.
Following Judy Wajcman’s perspective, the organisers view technology as both a cause and a consequence of gender relationships. They invite scholars from different fields and disciplines (gender studies, sociology, history, anthropology, cultural studies, law, media studies, art and others) with various theoretical perspectives and interdisciplinary approaches to reflect on the following topics: Read more and source … (Web)