معرفی
Giselinde Kuipers is a Research Professor of Sociology at KU Leuven, affiliated with the Centre for Culture, Conflict, and Inequalities (C3I) within the Faculty of Social Sciences. She also holds a research affiliation with the Center for Sociological Research (CeSO). Her work focuses on cultural sociology, humor studies, and the intersections of beauty, fashion, and inequality. She is a member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Research Interests: Kuipers’ research explores how humor operates as a political tool, the societal impacts of beauty standards (termed 'beautyvism'), and the transformation of the fashion industry in response to climate change. She investigates these themes through projects like 'Beauty and Inequality' (funded by the European Research Council) and 'Shame and Sustainability in Fashion'. Her work frequently addresses issues of cultural capital, class distinctions, and digital public sphere dynamics.
Publications & Projects: Her recent work includes studies on radical-right humor's political efficacy, the role of satire in environmental debates, and fashion's response to climate activism. She co-edited the De Gruyter Handbook of Humor Studies and launched databases analyzing humor scandals across Europe. Her teaching includes the Master’s in Culture & Society program at KU Leuven.
Awards & Recognition: Her contributions to sociology have earned her membership in the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences. She has supervised multiple doctoral projects on global beauty regimes, humor polarization, and fashion sustainability.
Labs & Teams: Kuipers leads interdisciplinary teams within C3I and collaborates internationally on projects like the 'Beauty and Inequality' initiative, involving researchers in Accra, Brussels, Buenos Aires, and Hong Kong. She also engages public audiences through podcasts (e.g., Culture & Inequality) and ERCcomics webcomics explaining sociological concepts.
