Isabelle Charpentier

Isabelle Charpentier is a Professor in the Department of Sociology, Ethnology & Demography at the Faculty of Human and Social Sciences and Philosophy, University of Picardy – Jules Verne (UPJV). She is a researcher at CURAPP-ESS (UMR 7319) and an associate researcher at CESSP-CSE (UMR 8209), affiliated with the University of Paris 1-Panthéon-Sorbonne and EHESS. Her work bridges sociology, political studies, and cultural analysis, with a strong focus on gender, literature, and media.

Her research centers on gender relations in the Maghreb, particularly through literary and cinematic representations. She explores themes such as female sexuality, virginity, and resistance in Franco-Maghrebi women’s writing. Another major strand of her work examines political television series, analyzing gender dynamics among 'spin doctors' and political professionals. She also studies non-mixed professions, notably women chefs in France, and the intersection of arts and social sciences.

Her recent publications reflect a consistent engagement with Annie Ernaux, reception studies, and Maghreb feminist literature. She has co-organized interdisciplinary events on collaboration between artists and social scientists and is currently working on a book about theater director Jeanne Champagne.

• Research Themes: Gender, sexuality, cultural sociology, media reception, Maghreb literature, political television, non-mixed professions
• Current Projects: Myth of the 'sleeping child' in Maghreb women’s cinema; role of childhood reading in literary vocation; sociology of political TV series audiences

Charpentier holds significant pedagogical responsibilities, including coordination of the Sociology degree program and supervision of master’s theses. She has contributed to academic governance through participation in national hiring committees and doctoral schools.