This chapter argues that combining recent work in critical studies on men and masculinities (CSMM... more This chapter argues that combining recent work in critical studies on men and masculinities (CSMM) with critical leadership studies (CSL) has the potential to open up important new research agendas in the broad area of gender and leadership and more particularly in relation to men, masculinities, and leadership. Its starting point is Collinson and Hearn's 1994 Gender, Work & Organization article, "Naming men as men: Implications
The escalating climate crisis we are amidst, points to a profound lack of care for (non)human oth... more The escalating climate crisis we are amidst, points to a profound lack of care for (non)human others and the Earth. Humanity's massive consumption of other animals for food is a key driver of climate change. Using the notion of care, this chapter examines veganism as a pathway for men to move towards more sustainable and egalitarian ways of living. The chapter draws on 61 qualitative interviews with vegan men based in Finland and Estonia. Aavik argues that veganism can constitute one tangible way for men to cultivate and practice greater care towards (non)human others, the environment and the self.
LGBTQ+ Activism in Central and Eastern Europe, 2019
This chapter focuses on how LGBTQ+ rights are negotiated in Estonia. Specifically, I explore the ... more This chapter focuses on how LGBTQ+ rights are negotiated in Estonia. Specifically, I explore the meanings that LGBTQ+ people in Estonia attribute to state recognition of same-sex partnerships. Estonia is a highly secular country that seeks to portray itself as progressive and innovative. Yet, currently, the state does not allow marriages between same-sex couples, while the status of registered partnerships remains legally and practically ambiguous. Drawing on narratives of members of the LGBTQ+ community and using the concept of sexual citizenship, the aim is to understand how LGBTQ+ people negotiate uncertainty around the legal status of same-sex partnerships. The chapter illuminates how LGBTQ+ lives and experiences do not necessarily correspond to the hegemonic notion of the ‘ideal citizen’ embraced by the Estonian state. The findings help to imagine more inclusive forms of citizenship.
In the age of the Anthropocene, questions of ecological sustainability, animal ethics, and human ... more In the age of the Anthropocene, questions of ecological sustainability, animal ethics, and human health are intimately entangled. From a gender perspective, compared to women, men’s diets tend to be less healthy and sustainable. This is linked to worse health outcomes for men. Therefore, alternative, more ethical ways of eating that have the potential to improve men’s health and well-being and simultaneously contribute to better public health and sustainability outcomes should be encouraged. Veganism addresses issues of food, health, climate change, and animal justice simultaneously. This article explores vegan men’s food practices in relation to health and well-being, drawing on qualitative interviews with 61 vegan men. The interview material was analyzed using the method of thematic analysis. Our findings suggest that becoming vegan encourages positive changes in men’s health behavior. This includes paying more attention to nutrition and taking better care of one’s health. Vegan m...
Gender Studies and the New Academic Governance, 2017
This article discusses the impact of the neo-liberalisation of higher education on gender studies... more This article discusses the impact of the neo-liberalisation of higher education on gender studies and feminist research in post-socialist settings. This is done using the example of Estonia, where the neo-liberal ideology (more broadly) and its implementation in universities is widely regarded as common sense and rarely challenged. In this article we consider how feminist scholars in Estonia both accommodate and challenge the corporatisation of universities. We argue that feminist scholars in Estonia are largely complicit in the neo-liberalisation of academia, playing by its rules rather than offering resistance. We contend that discursive interventions may not be sufficient in displacing neo-liberalisation in academic life and that it is crucial to also engage with material dimensions of academic precarity under neo-liberal conditions. Particularly in post-socialist settings, revitalising academic trade unions is an important task. Resistance to neo-liberalisation must be accomplished collectively. We suggest that advancing intersectional perspectives in feminist scholarship and forming intersectional coalitions to combat damaging neo-liberal processes in academia might be a way forward.
Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 2021
Increasingly high-profile research is being undertaken into the socio-environmental challenges as... more Increasingly high-profile research is being undertaken into the socio-environmental challenges associated with the over-production and consumption of food from animals. Transforming food systems to mitigate climate change and hidden hunger, ensure food security and good health all point to reducing animal-based foods as a key lever. Moving beyond animal-based food systems is a societal grand challenge requiring coordinated international research by the social sciences and humanities. A ‘selective openness’ to this range of disciplines has been observed within multi-discipline research programmes designed to address societal grand challenges including those concerned with the sustainability of food systems, inhibiting the impact of social sciences and humanities. Further, existing research on animal-based foods within these disciplines is largely dispersed and focused on particular parts of food systems. Inspired by the ‘Sutherland Method’ this paper discusses the results of an itera...
This chapter argues that combining recent work in critical studies on men and masculinities (CSMM... more This chapter argues that combining recent work in critical studies on men and masculinities (CSMM) with critical leadership studies (CSL) has the potential to open up important new research agendas in the broad area of gender and leadership and more particularly in relation to men, masculinities, and leadership. Its starting point is Collinson and Hearn's 1994 Gender, Work & Organization article, "Naming men as men: Implications
The escalating climate crisis we are amidst, points to a profound lack of care for (non)human oth... more The escalating climate crisis we are amidst, points to a profound lack of care for (non)human others and the Earth. Humanity's massive consumption of other animals for food is a key driver of climate change. Using the notion of care, this chapter examines veganism as a pathway for men to move towards more sustainable and egalitarian ways of living. The chapter draws on 61 qualitative interviews with vegan men based in Finland and Estonia. Aavik argues that veganism can constitute one tangible way for men to cultivate and practice greater care towards (non)human others, the environment and the self.
LGBTQ+ Activism in Central and Eastern Europe, 2019
This chapter focuses on how LGBTQ+ rights are negotiated in Estonia. Specifically, I explore the ... more This chapter focuses on how LGBTQ+ rights are negotiated in Estonia. Specifically, I explore the meanings that LGBTQ+ people in Estonia attribute to state recognition of same-sex partnerships. Estonia is a highly secular country that seeks to portray itself as progressive and innovative. Yet, currently, the state does not allow marriages between same-sex couples, while the status of registered partnerships remains legally and practically ambiguous. Drawing on narratives of members of the LGBTQ+ community and using the concept of sexual citizenship, the aim is to understand how LGBTQ+ people negotiate uncertainty around the legal status of same-sex partnerships. The chapter illuminates how LGBTQ+ lives and experiences do not necessarily correspond to the hegemonic notion of the ‘ideal citizen’ embraced by the Estonian state. The findings help to imagine more inclusive forms of citizenship.
In the age of the Anthropocene, questions of ecological sustainability, animal ethics, and human ... more In the age of the Anthropocene, questions of ecological sustainability, animal ethics, and human health are intimately entangled. From a gender perspective, compared to women, men’s diets tend to be less healthy and sustainable. This is linked to worse health outcomes for men. Therefore, alternative, more ethical ways of eating that have the potential to improve men’s health and well-being and simultaneously contribute to better public health and sustainability outcomes should be encouraged. Veganism addresses issues of food, health, climate change, and animal justice simultaneously. This article explores vegan men’s food practices in relation to health and well-being, drawing on qualitative interviews with 61 vegan men. The interview material was analyzed using the method of thematic analysis. Our findings suggest that becoming vegan encourages positive changes in men’s health behavior. This includes paying more attention to nutrition and taking better care of one’s health. Vegan m...
Gender Studies and the New Academic Governance, 2017
This article discusses the impact of the neo-liberalisation of higher education on gender studies... more This article discusses the impact of the neo-liberalisation of higher education on gender studies and feminist research in post-socialist settings. This is done using the example of Estonia, where the neo-liberal ideology (more broadly) and its implementation in universities is widely regarded as common sense and rarely challenged. In this article we consider how feminist scholars in Estonia both accommodate and challenge the corporatisation of universities. We argue that feminist scholars in Estonia are largely complicit in the neo-liberalisation of academia, playing by its rules rather than offering resistance. We contend that discursive interventions may not be sufficient in displacing neo-liberalisation in academic life and that it is crucial to also engage with material dimensions of academic precarity under neo-liberal conditions. Particularly in post-socialist settings, revitalising academic trade unions is an important task. Resistance to neo-liberalisation must be accomplished collectively. We suggest that advancing intersectional perspectives in feminist scholarship and forming intersectional coalitions to combat damaging neo-liberal processes in academia might be a way forward.
Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 2021
Increasingly high-profile research is being undertaken into the socio-environmental challenges as... more Increasingly high-profile research is being undertaken into the socio-environmental challenges associated with the over-production and consumption of food from animals. Transforming food systems to mitigate climate change and hidden hunger, ensure food security and good health all point to reducing animal-based foods as a key lever. Moving beyond animal-based food systems is a societal grand challenge requiring coordinated international research by the social sciences and humanities. A ‘selective openness’ to this range of disciplines has been observed within multi-discipline research programmes designed to address societal grand challenges including those concerned with the sustainability of food systems, inhibiting the impact of social sciences and humanities. Further, existing research on animal-based foods within these disciplines is largely dispersed and focused on particular parts of food systems. Inspired by the ‘Sutherland Method’ this paper discusses the results of an itera...
This book explores the potential of men’s veganism to contest unsustainable anthropocentric mascu... more This book explores the potential of men’s veganism to contest unsustainable anthropocentric masculinities. Examining what it means to be a vegan man and connections between men, masculinities and veganism addresses exploitative human-animal relations, climate change, and social inequalities as urgent and interconnected global issues. Using conceptual insights from critical studies on men and masculinities, ecofeminism, critical animal studies and vegan studies, this book examines the potential of men’s veganism and vegan masculinities to foster more ethical, caring and sustainable ways of relating to nonhuman animals and to contribute towards more egalitarian gender relations. This book is grounded in a qualitative empirical study of the lived experiences of 61 vegan men in Northern Europe. The themes explored include men’s transition to veganism, the emotional and embodied dimensions of men’s veganism, negotiating social and intimate relationships as vegan men, and links between men’s veganism, gender equality and social justice.
Uploads
Papers by Kadri Aavik