Issues of gender, gender relations, and gender inequality have been placed at the center of scholarly study from the perspective of the social sciences since the 1960s. In the years that followed, gender became established as a central conceptual tool for both the social sciences and the humanities, enabling interdisciplinary dialogue between them. Gender studies, as a recognized interdisciplinary academic field, focus on the social, cultural, and historical construction of gender and the associated inequalities and discriminations, as well as on individual and collective experiences, aiming at the production of knowledge that can be practically applied in social and professional life. As gender interacts with and is intertwined with experiences, conditions, and choices, the gender dimension is present across the entire spectrum of human activity: at social, cultural, political, religious, and economic levels, as well as in relation to science and technology.

In the Department of Social Anthropology and History, Gender Studies constitute a key interdisciplinary academic field at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Core commitments of the Department’s programs of study include the teaching of currently relevant and critical subject areas, the production of new research ideas, respect for diversity and multiculturalism, emphasis on social, professional, and ethical responsibility, as well as sensitivity to gender-related issues, the practice of critical thinking and self-reflection, and the promotion of free, creative, and inductive thinking.

Knowledge of gender dynamics, unequal relationships, discrimination, and recurring patterns, as well as the intersection of gender with other modes and practices that produce inequality, can offer a better understanding of how these operate across many areas of life and enable the development and implementation of actions aimed at eliminating them. Especially in periods marked by intense inequalities and rapid transformations, scientific training with a focus on gender is essential—not only because it benefits individuals, communities, and organizations by providing specific knowledge and skills, but also because it offers answers to issues that concern contemporary societies and are central to public discourse in Greece and abroad.