Helene Aarseth

Helene Aarseth is a Professor at the Centre for Gender Research, University of Oslo. She holds a PhD from the Centre for Gender Studies (2002–2007) and has held various academic roles including Interim Director of the Centre for Gender Research (2019–2020) and Research Director at Norwegian Social Research (2015–2016). Her research focuses on gender in academia, critical theory, and psychosocial perspectives, with notable contributions to understanding gender inequality in STEM, neoliberal university structures, and metric governance. Aarseth has been recognized with awards such as the Journal article of the year from Tidsskrift for kjønnsforskning (2010, 2014) and was shortlisted for The Sociological Review's Prize for Outstanding Scholarship (2016). Her work bridges sociology, feminist theory, and narrative methods to explore themes like family cultures, class dynamics, and emotional investments in academic settings. She has contributed to major edited volumes and journals, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to gender studies and social theory.

• Education: PhD in Gender Studies, University of Oslo (2007)
• Key Research Areas: Gender in Academia, Critical Theory, Psychosocial Studies, Family Dynamics

Her research often addresses the intersections of capitalism, class, and gender, particularly in elite and corporate university contexts. Aarseth’s publications analyze topics like audit culture, emotional labor, and the epistemological implications of metric-driven governance in higher education.