معرفی
Tiina Vares is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Human Services at the University of Canterbury's Faculty of Arts, a position she has held since January 2005. Her research specializes in sexualities, gender, embodiment, ageing, and intimacies, with notable projects on preteen girls' engagement with popular culture amid 'sexualization' debates, asexuality in New Zealand, and emerging work on digital intimacy transformations.
Her research interests span critical examinations of gender norms, digital relationships, asexuality studies, media representations of femininity, and the intersection of technology with intimate practices. She employs interdisciplinary approaches drawing from sociology, cultural studies, and feminist theory to analyze contemporary social phenomena.
Vares' publications consistently explore themes of gender identity, digital communication, and sexual politics. Her recent work focuses on dating app cultures and asexuality, while earlier research critically engages with media representations of girls and women. Methodologically, she emphasizes qualitative and participatory approaches, including video diaries and discourse analysis.
She has supervised 25+ graduate students on diverse topics including gender relations in workplaces, LGBTQ+ experiences, migration identities, sexuality education, and media analysis. Her mentorship covers thesis projects exploring BDSM communities, transgender youth, polyamory, and post-disaster social services.
Professional activities include editorial board membership for Women's Studies Journal (since 2014), chairing the School of Language, Social and Political Sciences (2013-present), and peer review for journals including Sexualities, Feminism and Psychology, and Gender, Place, and Culture.
