The Kurdish Women’s Movement in Europe (TJK-E) held its "Jineology against the darkness of positive sciences; woman life freedom" conference in the French capital city Paris. Participants of the conference discussed the critique of positive sciences and discussed the parameters of jineology as a women’s paradigm. The conference held in the Monteuil Conference Palace was dedicated to PKK founder Sakine Cansız, KNK Paris Representative Fidan Doğan and Youth Movement member Leyla Şaylemez.

‘WOMEN’S EXPERIENCES ARE APPROPRIATED’

The International Kurdish Women’s Movement representative Nusel Kılıç made the opening remark, and Ayşe Berktay moderated the first session of the conference on the critique of positive sciences. Paris Diderot University professor Jules Falquet discussed the socialist and feminist movements in Latin America, El Salvador and other parts of the world. Falque emphasized that the academic and social experiences of women’s movements across the world are appropriated from women.

‘EXPLOITATION OF THE MIND SERVES AS A THICK WALL’

Figen Aras from the Amed Women’s Academy joined the conference via Skype because of the restrictions of the Turkish state, and said that the current system appropriates and resells women’s knowledge as the exploitation of the mind serves as a thick wall.

DISCUSSION ON JINEOLOGY

Jineology was discussed as a women’s paradigm during the second session of the conference, and Haskar Kırmızıgül and Fidan Yıldırım from the Kurdish Women’s Movement answered the questions of the participants. Yıldırım emphasized that science cannot be free as long as it is under state control, and Kırmızıgül informed the participants about the Kurdish Women’s Movements activities on jineology.

DEBATE ON OVERCOMING TRADITIONAL ROLES

In the third session of the conference moderated by Türkan Yıldız, speakers Rojda Yıldırım, Diren Polat and Aynur Hulaku and participants debated gender relations, traditional roles, free life, economy, industrialism, ecology, alternative models, the dismantling of power and hierarchy, and self-defense. Rojda Yıldırım described jineology as a women’s paradigm, and criticized positive sciences’ ‘objectivity’ and ‘progressive understanding of history.’ Aynur Hulaku discussed self-defense and described it as a chain of defense against the hardships of nature. Diren Polat talked about the economy, industrialism and the ecology, emphasized the importance of economical models on self-sufficiency for jineology, and called for the organization of more cooperatives and collectives.

‘WOMEN SHOULD PARTICIPATE IN DECISION-MAKING MECHANISMS IN ORDER TO DISMANTLE THE HIERARCHY’

Havin Güneşer also spoke during the conference and emphasized the need for women’s participation in decision-making mechanisms in dismantling power and hierarchy. In the last session of the conference, members of the Kobanê Women’s Collective and conference participants discussed the topic of free sciences, and a Rojava Women’s Academy representative joined the discussion via Skype. Lastly, the conference ended with the performance of several music bands.