Ethical Issues and Thematic Gender Orientation

Ethical considerations in research are addressed according to the guidelines and recommendations of the Ethics Commission of the University of Graz, based on Austrian University legislation and the relevant documents of the European Commission, including “The European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity” (2011). Ethical issues are also considered in the mentoring relationship and discussed during the doctoral seminars (with particular regard to empirical research, such as interviews and participant observation, especially when vulnerable groups and/or sensitive data is in question). The whole research project reflects gender relations as at least one of the analytical dimensions in every dissertation project. Our Critical Constructivist Europeanization aproach is driven and structured by gender mainstreaming as well as feminist perspectives with focus on forms of patriarchy, economic exploitation of women, reproduction of gender inequalities via language, law regulation, and de-secularization through Europeanization.