Alp Biricik - PhD student

Education/employment:

2007 PhD student, Department of Gender Studies, Linkoping University

2006 Auditing student for the MA course Rationality and Social Thought, Department of Cultural Studies, Istanbul Bilgi University, Istanbul, Turkey (Fall term, non-credit)

2005- 2006 MA in Gender Studies, Department of Gender Studies, Central European
University, Budapest, Hungary. Thesis topic: (Re)constructing Hegemonic Masculinity Through Militarized Medical Discourse in Turkey

1998 – 2005 Coordinator for projects on human rights, capacity building for NGOs and youth, Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly, Istanbul, Turkey

1992 – 1998 BA in Guidance for Education and Psychological Consultancy Studies, Department of Education Sciences, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey

1993 – 1998 Assistant coordinator (part-time), Women for Women’s Human Rights, Istanbul, Turkey

1993 – 1994 Therapist assistant (part-time), Center of Behavioral & Development Psychology, Istanbul, Turkey

PhD project

The PhD project, entitled In the Darkrooms of Cyberspace: The (Re)Production of Gay/Queer Subjectivities in the Transnational Context, I intend to analyze is the interaction of gay/queer male body, sexuality, gender, technology and space relations in the transnational context. By conducting cyber ethnographic study with gay/queer men, who use webcams to communicate with other members of cybercommunities (e.g. Qruiser, Large Penis Support Group, Queerflick, Camfrog) from ‘privatized’ spaces, particularly bedrooms, in their everyday life, I aim to explore the question of socio-cultural transformation of gay/queer male subjectivities in public and private spaces. More importantly, I aim to analyze the intersections of male embodiment and webcam relations to advance the discussions on surveillance. My main interest areas in the research are as follows:

• Analyzing the (re)production of gay/queer male subjectivities in the transnational context
• Advancing the epistemology of public and private space through the analysis of the new technologies (e.g. the integration of webcam in bedroom space)
• Exploring the new dimensions of surveillance in relation to technology by analyzing gay/queer men’s everyday life experiences in cybercommunities

Areas of interest

My current interests are studies on the intersections of gender, sexuality, body and (cyber)space in (pro)feminist and queer theories as well as critical studies on men and masculinities.

Selected publications

Academic publications

Rotten Bodies / Idealized Masculinities: Reconstructing Hegemonic Masculinity through Militarized Medical Discourse in Turkey Saarbrucken: VDM Verlag Dr. Muller Aktiengessellschaft& Co., 2008

"Curuk Raporu Ve Hegemonik Erkekligin Yeniden Insaasi, (Rotten Report and Reconstruction of Hegemonic Masculinity in Turkey) " In Carklardaki Kum: Vicdani Red, Dusunsel Kaynaklar Ve Deneyimler (Sand in the Propellers: Conscientious Objection, Intellectual Resources and Experiences), edited by Ozgur Heval Cinar and Coskun Usterci, 143-49. Istanbul: Iletisim Yayinlari, 2008

"Erkek Adam Ezberini Bozmak Uzerine: Türkiye’de Toplumsal Cinsiyet Sisteminin Resmi Söylem Üzerinden Kurgulanması (Deconstructing the Memorization of ‘Manly Man’: The Construction of Gender System through Official Discourse in Turkey)" In Cinsiyet Halleri: Turkiye'de Toplumsal Cinsiyet'in Kesisim Sinirlari (States of Sex: The Crosscutting Borders of Gender Relations in Turkey), edited by Nil Mutluer, 232-46. Istanbul: Varlik, 2008.

"Moned Eelistavad Olla Vahem Mehelikud: Meeste Kehade Meditsiiniline Vormimine Turgi Sojavaess " In Ihakeha ja lihakeha: Valik esseid ja arutlusi kehast (Selected essays on the body), edited by Redi Koobak and Raili Poldsaar, 65-67, Talinn: Kirjastuskeskus, 2008.


NGO work related publications and articles

Co-editor for the training books on NGO capacity building and human rights in Turkey with Emel Kurma, Ebru Uzpeder and Hale Akay.

What Do We Struggle for? Assuming the role of an attorney for a social case, No: 1, Istanbul: hCa Turkey, 2003.

Where Are We Heading For? An efficient working approach: Strategic Planning, No: 2, Istanbul: hCa Turkey, 2003.

How Do We Work? Structure, operation and management of NGOs, No: 3, Istanbul: hCa Turkey, 2003.

How Do We Make Our Voice Heard? Building up Public Opinion & Accessing Media, No: 4, Istanbul: hCa Turkey, 2003.

How to Go Further? New Tactics in Human Rights Struggle, No: 5, Istanbul: hCa Turkey, 2003.

“Europe, So Close – Too Far Away,” You see why? International Magazine, Intercultural Youth Exchange (ICYE), Issue 3 (July 2001)

“Welcome to the Club,” the Collage -International hCa Youth Magazine, No 12 (Spring 2000)

Contact:

mailto: alpbi@tema.liu.se