PROF. JACEK KOCHANOWSKI 🔴🟠🟡🟢🔵🟣 KOCHANOWSKI.EU

Welcome to my website.

I am a sociologist and a cultural theorist, specialising in queer studies (social studies on sexual/gender non-normativities), which are a branch of gender studies (social studies on gender and sexualities). I am interested in cultural studies, theatre social studies, post-colonial studies, and French post-structural philosophy (with the focus on Foucault, Derrida, and Lacan).

I am an associate professor at the University of Warsaw. I work in the Institute of Applied Social Sciences (www.isns.uw.edu.pl), where I am also the head of the Centre for Social Studies on Sexualities. The Centre’s activity is dedicated to studies of sexual behaviors and gender identifications that transgress rigid social norms. The research areas of the Center’s team include bisexuality, woman-to-woman intimate relationships, subverting gender boundaries through gender bending, transsexuality in Poland, fluid lesbian (non)identities, queer performativity, and the rights of individuals with mental health issues.

At the University of Warsaw, I was, for two terms, a member of the Rector’s Anti-Discrimination Commission, the first such commission at a Polish university, founded by professors Bożena Chołuj and Małgorzata Fuszara. I am a member of the Polish Sociological Association and the Polish Society for Theatre Research. In 2005-2010, I worked for the Centre for the Studies in Research Policy and Higher Education. I also worked in private universities, also as an interim Rector and Prorector.

You will find the list of my publications in the tab “Publikacje”. My latest monograph is Socjologia seksualności. Marginesy(“Sociology of Sexuality. Margins,” published by Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN). I am also a co-editor, with Tomasz Wrzosek, PhD, of Nowe studia kulturowe (“New Cultural Studies,” published by Wydawnictwa Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego).

I obtained my PhD in sociology in the Institute of Sociology (University of Warsaw, 2003), and my postdoctoral habilitation in the Institute of Applied Social Sciences (University of Warsaw, 2011). I have taught at the Institute of Sociology of the Jagiellonian University and other private universities. I am a member of Gender Studies at the University of Warsaw. I used to teach at Gender Studies of the Jagiellonian University.

In my research and teaching activity, I have collaborated with several institutions, such as Theatre Institute in Warsaw, Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw, the Zachęta National Gallery of Art in Warsaw, Contemporary Art Gallery Bunkier Sztuki in Krakow, International Cultural Centre in Krakow, Wroclaw Contemporary Museum, and Nowy Theatre in Krakow.

Apart from academic work, I have participated in commercial projects launched by Discovery Channel, Fox Life, and Tymofarm.

I have collaborated with several public institutions, m.in. z Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights and Office of Anna Grodzka Parliamentary Member and the Parliamentary Team Społeczeństwo FAIR, of which she was the head.

I am an observer and commentator of the Polish political scene. My heart beats on the left side, which is why I support initiatives aiming to fight economic, gender, sexual, and any other exclusion. Zygmunt Bauman once wrote that sociology should serve the interests of freedom – I aim to remain faithful to the claim.

I am also gay, which in Poland is still politically significant. I co-founded Campaign Against Homophobia (I remain the organization’s honorary member). I have collaborated with several other LGBTQ organizations.

I hope this semi-official presentation helped you find out about my professional and social activity. Please contact me in case of further questions.