Zhanar Sekerbayeva
Kazakhstan
Zhanar Sekerbayeva is a co-founder of the Kazakhstan Feminist Initiative “Feminita”. She is a feminist, powerlifter and poet. In her work she aims at expanding the concept of ‘gender’ in the general public discourse through activism by mainstreaming questions of gender identity in the academia. She graduated with Summa Cum Laude from the ‘Gumilev’ Eurasian National University in 2005, as well as from the ‘Lomonosov’ Moscow State University in 2009. In 2014 she enrolled at the European Humanities University (Lithuania) MA program in Sociology with focus on gender and culture. Completed study at the University of Tsukuba, Japan towards a PhD degree. Her doctoral dissertation focuses on the processes of regulating identities and “normalization” of transgender people in Kazakhstan, where she is interested in understanding how the gatekeeping practices of legal professionals may or may not be shaping the gender identities of transgender individuals as they seek legal affirmation. Her latest publication is a chapter in the “Women, Sport and Exercise in the Asia-Pacific Region: Domination, Resistance, Accommodation” edited by Molnar G., Sara N. Amin, Yoko Kanemasu, as part of the Routledge Research in Sports, Culture and Society series.
My Sessions
Activist Intervention from Central Asia
Decolonizing Eurasia
Zhanar Sekerbayeva
Mohira Suyarkulova
Ramilia Almazbekova
This session focuses on creating a space for queer women from across Eurasia to reflect on what decolonizing feminism would look like in our contexts, to exchange experiences and to forge transnational and trans-local solidarities.
Central Asian lesbians, towards a more united movement
Gulzada Serzhan
Zhanar Sekerbayeva
Mohira Suyarkulova
Anna Dovgopol
Human Right Activist
Thanks to the efforts of activists from the region, Central Asia was included into the ILGA Europe, Transgender Europe, and now in EL*C. We deliberately strove for this, since for the activists from the region, it is crucial to recognize common experience, problems and solidarity with the countries of Eastern Europe and other post-Soviet republics. […]
Closing plenary
The Joyce Wischnia one. Litigation, lawyers and legal advocacy to fight discriminations
Ilaria Todde
Att. Denitsa Lyubenova
Att. Irene Lepre
Kseniya Kirichenko
Zhanar Sekerbayeva
Juliette Sanchez-Lambert
The L word (law, of course!) is fundamental to defend the rights of LBQ women and activists. Legal means can be an effective way to fight discrimination, make our voice heard and mobilise our communities. Our lesbian geniuses, lawyers and human rights advocates, will discuss legal advocacy and strategic litigation from different countries, jurisdictions and […]
Lesbians organizing in East Europe and Central Asia: case studies
Alisa Zhabenko
Zhanar Sekerbayeva
Dorottya Rédai
Agnes Granroth
During a workshop we will talk about situation with lesbians in countries of Eastern Europe and Central Asia, which usually remains invisible on the map of Europe. Here we will see how invisibility impacts on lives of women, who face double or even multiple discrimination. We will talk about lesbians, bisexual women and trans, who […]