Mexico City, March 17, 2026.—The Interdisciplinary Group for Feminist Studies (GIEF) has established itself at the Universidad Panamericana an academic forum for dialogue and reflection that addresses contemporary issues in feminism from a human-centered approach focused on the dignity of the individual.
The GIEF group was founded at the School of Humanities in response to a fundamental question: Who is conducting gender studies? Based on this question, a group of researchers was formed, comprising academics from various fields—including lawyers, psychologists, philosophers, economists, educators, communication specialists, administrators, and even chemists.
Five years after its founding, this interdisciplinary group seeks to address the current challenges facing feminism through academic research, in keeping with the humanistic tradition of the Universidad Panamericana, by promoting initiatives that foster dialogue.
Person-centered feminism
One of the main contributions of this group has been the publication of its first book: Person-Centered Feminism, a work that seeks to broaden the debate on contemporary feminism through an approach that acknowledges that inequality has shaped our society and created biases that continue to be perpetuated to this day, while never failing to recognize the dignity of all people.
“That is where we come in: seeking a path to hope that begins with the recognition of all people as equal in dignity, without losing sight of the deep-rooted, structural inequalities that women face,” explained Dr. Diana Ibarra, a research professor and member of the group.
In this regard, the text calls for a shift from a discourse focused exclusively on criticism to one that incorporates dialogue, especially in a global context marked by polarization.
“The problem was that we couldn’t find that kind of thinking anywhere else. In other words, we either came across complaints—many of them well-founded—about the injustices women face, or we encountered viewpoints that reject feminism entirely and, even though they spoke of love or a return to certain values, viewed any form of feminism with suspicion. There didn’t seem to be a middle ground,” she said .
The value we have simply by virtue of being human
In her second book, Analysis of Women’s Dignity and Human Rights the authors delve into how human rights have evolved, emphasizing that the intrinsic dignity of the person must be the guiding principle of every social structure.
The study examines how, despite the universality of human rights, historical and social conditions have limited many women’s ability to fully exercise those rights, particularly in areas such as education, employment, and social participation.
“This can be better understood through an example. The right to education is universal. But when the division of labor within societies has been deeply unequal, and caregiving tasks have been assigned almost exclusively to women, the time available for many women to devote to their studies has been considerably less in a large number of cultures, ”said Dr. Susana Ochoa, editor of the publication.
The book encourages readers to acknowledge the challenges women have faced within structures that have perpetuated inequality and to work toward transforming them, so that everyone can fully enjoy their rights.
“It is important not to fuel hate speech, resentment, or violence. On the contrary, we propose that we be guided by a spirit of love; this means we must avoid reducing people to their flaws. We can denounce unjust acts and structures, but at the same time, we must strive to ensure that every person can improve their circumstances and that their dignity is always respected.”
“That is why we believe it is necessary to move away from a logic of power and toward a logic of recognition,” said Dr. Fernanda Crespo, who also co-authored the book.
Commitment to dialogue and social transformation
Through initiatives such as the GIEF, the Universidad Panamericana its commitment to knowledge creation, critical thinking, and the training of professionals capable of analyzing social challenges from an ethical and humanistic perspective.
This approach fosters a culture of dialogue that seeks not only to understand current issues, but also to help build a society that is more just, inclusive, and respectful of the dignity of all people.
Learn more about the Interdisciplinary Group for Feminist Studies at the Universidad Panamericana : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwYQjCc1K3Q
