Timea Crofony

PhD. candidate in Cultural Anthropology at Charles University in Prague, gender equality expert and lawyerResearch: Gender, Jewish and Israel studies

About Me

My name is Timea Crofony, and I am a PhD candidate in Ethnology and Cultural Anthropology at the Faculty of Arts, Charles University in Prague. My dissertation explores how the state, ethno-religious construction of Jewish identity and personal relationships (intimacy, desire, dating patterns and preferences) interact in the context of contemporary Israel among secular Israeli Jews.I hold Master’s degrees in Law and in Gender Studies. I have previously been a visiting student at the University of Oxford and Tel Aviv University, and you can currently find me in Oxford, where I am a junior visiting scholar at the Oxford Centre for Hebrew and Jewish Studies.Beyond academia, I am a freelance international expert, trainer, and lecturer in gender equality and diversity.Prior to pursuing my PhD., I worked as a lawyer for seven years, and later served as a junior researcher and lecturer of gender equality at the Institute of Sociology of the Czech Academy of Sciences.What currently makes me happy: practicing yoga, running in nature, reading about mountains, and writing poetry.Education2020–present
Ethnology and Cultural Anthropology, The Institute of Ethnology and Central
European and Balkan Studies, Faculty of Arts, Charles University
(Ph.D. expected, Dissertation: Politics of Desire and Secular Israeli Jews, supervisor: Dr. Marcela Menachem Zoufalá)2018–2020
Gender Studies, Faculty of Humanities, Charles University
(MA in Gender Studies; Dissertation: Mechitza as a Metaphor: Separation or Unity?);
Summa cum Laude2018–2019
MPA in Research and Development (Alevia s.r.o., Master of Public Administration)2008–2013
Law and Law Science, Faculty of Law, Charles University
(MA in Law; Dissertation: The Legal Position of Federation of Jewish Communities in the Czech Republic)Visiting student/scholar10/2024-present
University of Oxford, Oxford Centre for Hebrew & Jewish studies,
junior visiting scholar10/2023-3/2024
University of Oxford, Department of Politics & International Relations
visiting doctoral student, academic mentor: prof. Yaacov Yadgar9/2022-6/2023
Tel Aviv University, Department of Sociology & Anthropology
visiting research fellow, academic mentor: prof. Hanna Herzog4/2022-6/2022
University of Oxford, Department of Politics & International Relations
visiting doctoral student, academic mentor: prof. Yaacov Yadgar

Academic Work

I list only a very limited selection of activities here. For information on grants, awards, projects, work and teaching experience, please see my CV at the bottom of this page.Research Interests:Fields:Gender Studies
Jewish Studies
Israel Studies
Socio-cultural AnthropologyTopics:Women in Judaism
Contemporary Jewish identities
Culture and Society of Israel
Gender, Identity, and Space
Politics of Desire and Intimacy
Jewish Secularity
Religious Feminism
Women's Activism
Anthropology of Non/Religion
Construction of SubjectivitiesPublications:1. Crofony, T. 2023. Mechitza as a Metaphor: Separation, or Unity? (in Czech, Mechitza jako metafora: separace, nebo jednota?). In: Gender and Research 24(2): 53–82, https://doi.org/10.13060/gav.2023.016. Unofficial English translation here.2. Langhammerová,G., A. Nebeská, E. Oliva, T. Crofony. 2023. Gender Sensitive Communication in an Institution: a Handbook. (In Czech, Jak na genderově senzitivní komunikaci v instituci.). Prague: Institute of Sociology, Czech Academy of Sciences. ISBN: 978-80-7330-412-63. Crofony T. 2021. Israel and Four Mothers Movement: Leaving Lebanon in Peace. In: Kumaraswamy P. R. (ed.). The Palgrave International Handbook of Israel. Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-2717-0_7-14. Crofony, T., J. Dvořáčková, P. Rypáčková, H. Víznerová. 2020. Gender Equality in Research Organization (in Czech, Jak na změnu: genderová rovnost ve výzkumné organizaci). Prague: Institute of Sociology, Czech Academy of Sciences. ISBN 978-80-7330-368Conferences:2025: “Between Separation and Unity: Mechitza Practice as a Case Study of Trialogical Negotiation Between Space, Religion, and Identity”. International Symposium Religious Co-existence: Embodied Interactions in Sacred Spaces and Faith Practices, Newcastle University, 13.-15.1. 2025 (upcoming)2024: “Israeli and Palestinian mothers changing reality.” Political Motherhood and Peace Activism in Israel and Palestine. European Conference on Politics and Gender, ECPR, Ghent University, 8.-10. 7. 20242024: “We need a new Independence Day.” Israeli Identity Reflexions in the Midst of Judicial Overhaul before the Black Saturday. AIS-EAIS Joint Conference, Israel and Israel Studies: The European and International Perspective, 1.-3. 7. 2024, Faculty of Arts, Charles University2023: “I wouldn't date someone who isn't Jewish.” Politics of Desire and Secular Israeli Jews. The 39th Annual Conference of the Association for Israel Studies, New York University, USA, Israel at 75: Archives, History and Society, 26.-28. 6. 20232022: “Maybe If We Met Under Different Circumstances.” The Impact of Religion on Dating Patterns of Secular Israeli Jews. 10th Annual Conference on Israel Studies of EAIS, Isolation and Inclusion as Competing Topics of Contemporary Israel Studies, Mansfield College, University of Oxford, UK, 18.-20. 9. 20222021: Bridging Hybridity: The Complex Nature of Secular Jewish Identity in Israel and Its Theoretical Framing. The 37th Annual Conference of the Association for Israel Studies, University of Illinois, USA, Pluralistic Israel: Women, Minorities and Diversity, 7.-9. 6. 20212019: Hegemonic Masculinity as a Barrier to Peace Process: From Nordau to Netanyahu. The 8th Annual Conference on Israel Studies of EAIS, Charles University, Democracy in Challenging Times: Israel, Europe, and the World, Prague, Czech Republic, 8.-10. 9. 20192019: Postavení a budoucnost vysokých uměleckých škol jako výzkumných organizací (The Position and Future of Art Colleges as Research Organizations). The conference Public Policy on Research, Development and Innovation 2019, CERGE-EI, Prague, Czech Republic, September 2019Membership:Association of Israel Studies
Association for Jewish Studies
Czech Association for Social Anthropology
Czech Gender Expert Chamber
European Association of Israel Studies (member of the Academic Council)
European Consortium for Political Research

Gender equality

As a freelancer, I provide consulting, supervision, and lecturing services in the fields of gender equality, diversity, inclusion, and intersectionality.My journey into gender equality problematics began during my Master's in Gender Studies at Charles University. Following that, I worked as a lecturer, trainer, facilitator, and consultant at the Centre for Gender and Science, Institute of Sociology, Czech Academy of Sciences. In this role, I was the main coordinator of the Working Group for Change, which brought together over 360 members from universities and research organizations to drive cultural and organizational change toward gender equality. I provided consultation and guidance on developing and implementing Gender Equality Plans, conducting gender audits, and integrating gender perspectives into research projects within the Horizon Europe framework.I also completed the Train the Trainers program for international gender trainers through the Gender Equality Academy. In addition to my expertise in gender equality, I have worked in higher education as a lawyer, gender equality officer, and principal investigator of a project aimed at promoting gender equality in art colleges. Over the years, I have collaborated with most Czech universities and provided trainings for numerous international institutions.I offer tailored workshops and consultations for universities, research institutions, public organizations, and firms. I am also an active member in projects promoting social cohesion and inclusive practices, with a focus on minority groups including Jews, Muslims, and Roma. My work is deeply informed by both academic research and practical implementation in diverse educational and institutional environments.Selected workshops and lectures I have delivered:Gender sensitive language
Gender audit
Gender equality plan
Intersectionality
Gender dimension in Research and Development
Gender dimension of teaching and curricula
Gender sensitive teaching
Gender in Horizon Europe projectsPublications:Langhammerová,G., A. Nebeská, E. Oliva, T. Crofony. 2023. Gender Sensitive Communication in an Institution: a Handbook. (In Czech, Jak na genderově senzitivní komunikaci v instituci.). Prague: Institute of Sociology, Czech Academy of Sciences. ISBN: 978-80-7330-412-6Crofony, T., J. Dvořáčková, P. Rypáčková, H. Víznerová. 2020. Gender Equality in Research Organization (in Czech, Jak na změnu: genderová rovnost ve výzkumné organizaci). Prague: Institute of Sociology, Czech Academy of Sciences. ISBN 978-80-7330-368

Public lectures & activities

Public lectures and discussionsWomen in Judaism. 31. 10. 2024. Public lecture for the Jewish Museum in PragueVoices of Jewish Mothers: Motherhood and Peace Activism. 7. 5. 2024. Public lecture for the Jewish Museum in PragueHamas attacks Israel. Online debate for Voxpot reporters (in Czech), 8. 10. 2023.Mechitza: the spatial separation of women and men in modern Jewish Orthodoxy. 19. 11 .2021. Public lecture for the Safe Space Collective of Charles UniversityFeminist self-care: How to burn the patriarchy without burning out? 14. 10. 2021. Host of the panel discussion with experts from the Gender Expert ChamberSix genders in Talmud? It's more complicated. (in Czech). 29. 8. 2021. Podcast interview for Hergot, Radio Wave, Czech RadioWomen in Media. 28. 6. 2021. Guest speaker at the panel discussion organized by the Association for International Affairs, The Brussels Binder and Women on AirSexual harassment has not been addressed by universities. Now they have a reason. (in Czech). 19. 6. 2021. Interview for Novinky.czHow to talk about sexual violence and feminism? 26. 12. 2020. Guest speaker at the panel discussion organized by Konsent, PragueFeminism of Jewish Orthodoxy. 9. 9. 2020. Public lecture for JudaFest, Jewish Museum in PragueArticlesConflict in the Middle East: When peace is not an empty concept but a way of life (in Czech). 22. 11. 2023. Article for Heroine magazine about the Women Wage Peace. Unofficial English translation here.Now it's all about everything! Israel's struggle over the country's character (in Czech). Article for A2 magazine 8/2023Women in Black and Peace Movement (in Czech). Article for Equal Opportunities in Context, 2/2022 Gender, Liberation and ResistanceI Don't Want Flowers, I Want Equality: The Strike in Local and International Perspective (in Czech). Article for A2larm magazine, 8. 3. 2021The Position of Art Universities in the Context of Research and Development (in Czech). 21. 11. 2019. Article for vedavyzkum.czThe EAIS Talks on Israel StudiesThe State of Desire: Religion and Reproductive Politics in the Promised Land (interview with Dr. Lea Taragin-Zeller, 12/2024)Holy Rebellion: Religious Feminism and the Transformation of Judaism and Women’s Rights in Israel (interview with prof. R. Irshai and Dr. T. Zion-Waldoks, 7/2024)Israel: A History in 100 Cartoons (interview with Prof. C. Shindler, 12/2023)Israeli Development Aid to Sub-Saharan Africa: Soft Power and Foreign Policy (interview with Dr. K. Zielińska, 6/2022)Israel’s Regime Untangled: Between Democracy and Apartheid (interview with Prof. G. Ariely, 2/2023)Intoxicating Zion: A Social History of Hashish in Mandatory Palestine and Israel (interview with Prof. H. Ram, 5/2022)Israel and Morocco: From clandestine partnership to the Abraham Accords (interview with Dr. J. Ghariani, 2/2022)

Contact

Contact me at timea.crofony [ at ] gmail.comGet in touch via LinkedInFor updates follow at Academia