The W(h)ine Club: women finding joy in academic work

Abstract

The W(h)ine Club is a multidisciplinary women's research team which has been working together for the past 10 years. The idea for this Viewpoint piece grew as we participated in a Women in Research programme. The aim of the programme was to improve academic publications among women. A group of us in the programme found ourselves repeatedly referring to a time when we had worked together in a research project and the absolute joy we had experienced working together. We decided to write this reflection as the story of the W(h)ine Club, a space in which we complained, drank lots of wine, laughed and researched. All at the same time! What we realised was that women academics working together was a wonderful way to do research. Sharing our joys and sadness was often the glue that kept the team together and we learnt about research without realising it. In this Viewpoint we show that learning to research can be fun and that the bonds built in this process are powerful and validating.

Gender-Based Research Capacity Building as Transitional Process within the South African Higher Education Context: Towards A Community of Practice

“…The CoP at VUT is in its fourth year of an established practice and provides a common ground for uplifting of the profile of women at the Institution. Membership therefore implies a commitment to the initiative as such and the shared collective engagement as a group and as an individual (Selepe, Grobler, Dicks, & Oldewage-Theron, 2012). The common space is shared by novice and experienced researchers alike; and the interest in research is desired by all.…”

“…This creates a sense of unity and belonging (Selepe et al, 2012), thereby transforming the "individualistic culture" of traditional academic engagement (Theron, 2002) into a union of collective engagement. This social interaction acts as an intrinsic motivator, enhancing collaboration (Bai et al, 2013;Van Rijnsoever & Hessels, 2011) and connectedness within the team (Selepe et al, 2012). This results in a dynamic synergy between critical social engagement and intellectual companionship (Katz & Martin, 1997) while developing a research identity.…”

Building a Research Culture from Scratch at a University of Technology

“…One participant stated: The overall confidence was notably enhanced for all participants. From their experience specifically in the Woman in Research workshop, academics co-published on their experience of research development at VUT and discussed how their experience assisted in building their confidence through the support and encouragement provided by their colleagues and by the institution, which resulted in the following articles published: Garnett & Mohammed (2012) and Selepe, Grobler, Dicks & Oldewage-Theron (2012). Participants began to have an understanding of research and began to develop a wider scope of possibilities for research through collectively reflecting on their experience as part of building their confidence in research in their respective fields of inquiry as well as pursuing their research ambitions.…”