FERBOPO ERA ChairFrom 2–6 March 2026, Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu hosted Gender Equality Week, a series of events organised within the FERBOPO ERA Chair project, bringing together students and researchers to reflect on gender equality.
Held at the ULBS Library, the programme included discussions, research presentations, and an exhibition aimed at encouraging dialogue on topics such as workplace culture, leadership, political participation, institutional transformation, and the relationship between religion and gender.
March 2 – Sexist Humour in Organizations
The week opened with a session on sexist humour in organizations, presented by Ionela Vlase (PI of FERBOPO), which examined how everyday language and humour can influence workplace culture and shape perceptions of inclusion.
March 3 – Gender in Leadership Roles
The following day focused on gender in leadership roles, presented by Mihaela Herciu. This session encouraged reflection on the barriers women face in decision-making positions and the importance of inclusive leadership.
March 4 – Women in Politics
Mid-week hybrid session addressed women’s participation in politics, based on a sesssion led by ERA Chair Holder Lavinia Stan. This session highlighted the challenges and opportunities for gender representation in democratic institutions.
March 5 – Gender equality within ULBS
Another session explored gender equality within ULBS, presenting perspectives on institutional policies, ongoing initiatives, and opportunities to strengthen inclusive academic environments. The speakers for this session were Asist.univ.dr. Carolina Țîmbalari, Drd. Alexandra Radu and Drd. Bogdan Mihai.
March 5 – Institutionalized Religion and Gender
The final thematic session, Institutionalized Religion and Gender, brought together three research presentations examining gender and governance in Transnistria, transgender community advocacy in Malaysia, and representations of religion and family influence in socialist-era women’s magazines.
The final thematic session brought together three research presentations:
-“Run by women, managed by men: Transnistria’s public administration and its public servants,” presented by Ștefan Morar
-“Negotiating identity in the context of human rights and Islam: a case of transgender community-based organizations from Malaysia,” presented by Greta Timea Biro
-“The danger comes from grandmothers: Religion and atheist education in socialist women’s magazines,” presented by Anca Mândru
March 6 – Exhibition: Women Shaping Words and Worlds
The week concluded with the exhibition “Women Shaping Words and Worlds”, hosted in the ULBS Library lobby, which invited visitors to reflect on the historical and social contributions of women through curated visual materials.
Gender Equality Week demonstrated the importance of open dialogue and interdisciplinary research in addressing gender equality challenges. By bringing together diverse perspectives and audiences, the initiative contributed to the broader mission of the FERBOPO project to foster critical reflection on the relationships between state, religion, and body politics, while promoting diversity and inclusion in academic and societal contexts.
