Linking sexual science discourse and gender stereotyping
In Poland, Catholicism is often perceived as the exclusive source of discrimination against women and sexual minorities (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (or, questioning) (LGBTQ)). The Biomedgen project is exploring the relationship between scientific knowledge of sexuality and the construction of gender roles and stereotypes in contemporary Poland. This project assumes, contrary to popular thought, that Catholicism is not the only source of discrimination against women and LGBTQ groups. The approach posits that such a belief system cannot explain all mechanisms of inequality, and that science discourse, also employed by the Catholic Church itself, itself plays an important role. Given that science is a vital source of knowledge and has significant authority in contemporary society, the EU-funded Biomedgen project seeks to better understand how the many and varied discourses on sexuality shape gender roles and sexuality models and stereotypes. The approach is particular to Poland, and is placed in the context of post-socialist transformation and European Union enlargement. Working to collect data regarding scientific knowledge of sexuality in Poland and its global context, the aim is to develop a theoretical framework for applying the analysis of scientific knowledge of sexuality in Poland. Based on ethnographic fieldwork and analysis of written sources, the main objective is to answer a set of questions. Among these is the following: What models of gender roles emerge from scientific knowledge of sexuality, and how does its changing forms through biomedicalisation simultaneously reinforce and deconstruct existing cultural stereotypes on gender, heteronormative discourse, and concepts of women's and men's agency? To date, the main project outcome is a preliminary analysis of North American and Polish scientific knowledge of sexuality through a multidisciplinary approach. This has been presented in the form of conference papers. Other successes include the construction of new syllabi as well as a textbook for use in newly designed classes. Through ongoing work, research results and a deeper insight gained into the core subject will contribute to the development of a critical anthropological study of sexuality and medical anthropology in Poland. The significance of the project lies in its potential to better inform gender mainstreaming policies in areas such as sex education, sexual violence prevention and public health.