Education holds immense importance in both the work and practice of Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak. According to her, access to education is essential in breaking down class solidarities and uplifting the voices of the marginalised. Additionally, Spivak champions philosophy as a critical tool for liberation in the face of oppression.
Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak's work is thought-provoking and encourages us to think critically, deconstruct our assumptions, and become conscious of our place in the world and the power dynamics that we are accountable for. It compels us to examine our fundamental beliefs and principles.
About the speaker
Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak is one of the leading figures in subaltern studies, which aims to provide a voice to the marginalised populations that have been overlooked by conventional history. As a professor of comparative literature, she is actively involved in various educational initiatives in the United States, India, and Africa. She has been pivotal in launching one of the most fiercely debated areas of contemporary criticism and post-colonial studies worldwide. With several publications to her name, including "Can the Subaltern Speak?" and "Nationalism and the Imagination," she identifies as a "Marxist-feminist-deconstructionist" and a proponent of rural education. Several awards have recognised her contributions, including the prestigious Kyoto Prize.
This event is organised by the University of Geneva in partnership with the Gender Centre, the University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Western Switzerland and the Network for international policies and cooperation in education and training (NORRAG).