Olga Plakhotnik

Dr. Olga Plakhotnik is a Researcher at the Chair for Ukrainian Cultural Studies, Institute for Slavic Studies, University of Greifswald. She previously held postdoctoral and research positions at the University of Alberta and National Aerospace University, with a Ph.D. in Sociology (2019) from the Open University (UK).

• Education:
  • Ph.D. in Sociology (2019), Open University (UK)
  • MA in Sociology and Cultural Studies (2007), European Humanities University (Lithuania)
  • Candidate of Sciences in Social Philosophy (2004), National Aerospace University (Ukraine)
  • MA in General Psychology (1991), Kharkiv National University (Ukraine)

Her research interests focus on gender studies, queer theory, and post-Soviet political sociology, particularly analyzing sexual citizenship, feminist protest discourses, and decolonial frameworks in Ukraine. Recent publications interrogate transphobia in militarized spaces, racial politics during war, and undisciplined queer knowledge production. She employs critical pedagogy and discourse analysis to challenge epistemic hierarchies in academia and activism. Her work with Feminist Critique journal and contributions to LGBT+ educational programs in Eastern Europe highlight her commitment to gender equity and epistemic resistance.