[Member Introduction] Chika Ezure
Continuing from last time, we would like to introduce the people who run Blend! Blend is a place for interdisciplinary discussion, and the people involved in its operation have a wide variety of interests. Last time, we introduced Icity-san, who said, 'I have always wanted to do activities that spread Gendered Innovations.' This time, we will introduce Ellen, who studies gender theory.
Blend is looking for people to join us in deepening our learning, so we hope this self-introduction series helps you imagine what it's like to be part of our group.
What is Blend?
Blend is an initiative for young researchers interested in Gendered Innovations, launched by students from the University of Tokyo and Ochanomizu University.
The name is inspired by 'blend coffee,' and we aim to be a place where diverse perspectives intersect to create new discoveries. We provide a casual space for students from both humanities and sciences to gather, discuss Gendered Innovations, and refine their research. For more details about the organization, please click the button below.
Ellen's Self-Introduction
Today, we are introducing Ellen, whose encounter with fellow members led to the launch of Blend!
Profile
Name: Ellen
Affiliation: M1, Interfaculty Initiative in Information Studies, The University of Tokyo
A photo that represents me
Recent hobbies
Collecting incense, visiting small, unique hotels
Favorite way to drink coffee
Flat white (I like it with extra milk!)
Reason for joining Blend
I have been interested in Gendered Innovations for a long time. I launched Blend because I met wonderful people just when I was thinking I would love to do something to help spread Gendered Innovations.
What kind of place do you want Blend to be?
Perhaps it is a bias created by the word 'gender,' but until now, I have mostly had opportunities to talk about GI with people in the humanities and social sciences. Therefore, I hope that at Blend, we can talk about GI casually with people from more interdisciplinary backgrounds.
What sparked your interest in Gendered Innovations?
I learned about it while starting and running a femtech company. Although femtech and GI have completely different origins, they are treated as quite similar concepts in Japan. I became interested as I delved deeper into what the differences were between them and femtech.
Issues I want to solve from the perspective of Gendered Innovations in the future
My background is in the intersection of sociology and computer science. I believe that power structures exist in whether or not data even exists, so I want to resist those structures by increasing the amount of data and analysis that focuses on gender.
A final word! (To Blend members and future members)
I think this is a great opportunity to engage with GI casually, regardless of your level of understanding or knowledge about it! If you are even slightly interested in updating your research, I would be happy to have you join us in our activities.
Creating the future together with Blend
Starting in January 2024, Blend will hold monthly online study sessions to deepen our understanding of the theory and practice of Gendered Innovations. If you are interested in Gendered Innovations, please apply! Please check the link below for details and how to participate. Let's take the first step together toward creating a future that incorporates the perspective of sex and gender differences!
