Jineology literally means “women’s science or the science of women”. The word derives from jin, woman in Kurdish. Jineology is a critique of the approaches of positivist social sciences, which uphold the structures of states, patriarchy, and capital. Jineology is also defined as the “science of life” and “the science that reveals the knowledge structures based on democratic modernity.” With Jineology, women discover their knowledge and experience, and rewrite history while researching the history of women.
Jineology literally means “women’s science or the science of women”. The word derives from jin, ‘woman’ in Kurdish. Jineology was first mentioned by Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Ocalan in 2008 in his book entitled, “Sociology of Freedom”. Jineology, which aims to analyze the exploitation system based on the patriarchal system, the power-centered perspective of life, began to be discussed by women in 2011. In 2015, the Jineology Committee decided to spread this science after holding its first conference with the participation of 140 delegates. During the conference, women decided to spread this science all around the world.
Why Jineology?
Jineology is a positive science against the patriarchal mindset. It adds a new perspective to life and therefore it focuses on a wide area and interprets science to enrich it. The patriarchal mindset is about destroying societies but the current situation can be fundamentally reorganized by Jineology and transformed into a system of coexistence of societies. The ideology of Jineology, claiming to be a “science of life”, is based on “science of women”, “science of social life” and “science of free co-life.” It also reveals the true face of the occupiers against gender-based violence. Its aim is to struggle against the ideology of humiliation, denial, annihilation, and killing of women.
To develop the research methods according to women’s reality
Jineology serves to develop research methods, ideas, and actions for freedom according to women’s perspectives. The values that build societies are built around women and women have taken part in every part of life. Jineology carries out research on history, politics, society, ecology, demography, health, education, and economy. It also carries out research on religions, mythologies, philosophy, science, and their usage methods.
Economy-Ecology
Jineology sees the economy as one of its working areas; it carries out works on it and develops projects accordingly. A society cannot survive without an economy, what the capitalist system wants to do today is to completely disconnect the societies from the economy [because it disconnects us from the things we need to live]. Jineology evaluates this area theoretically, organizationally, and operationally in order to develop this area. Ecology is the natural biology and physical aspect of society. Jineology focuses on ecological problems with a scientific aspect.
Education- Politics
For Jineology, education is important to build a free society, so it always focuses on education. Jineology establishes the educational institutions of society and develops all kinds of theoretical and academic studies. It also develops comprehensive education programs for its members to improve other areas of Jineology. For Jineology, women and mothers are the architects of the art of politics and thus it conducts research and examinations in this field. Politics is about the freedom and durability of society. For Jineology, there is a connection with ethics, science, and politics and it provides solutions in the field of social science.
Read the first introductory post in this series in full.
Faculty of Jineology is the success of all women
The Faculty of Jineology was established at Rojava University in 2017, Dicle Kulilk, academic, and spokesperson of the Faculty of Jineology, says that the establishment of the faculty is the second revolution after the Revolution in Rojava.
The Faculty of Jineology, Social Sciences and Literature was established in Qamishlo city on August 15, 2017. After the construction of Jinwar village started, the Faculty of Jineology was opened at Rojava University. The Revolution in Rojava paves the way for many changes in NE Syria and the establishment of the Faculty of Jineology is one of them. For the first time in the whole world, the idea, science, and existence of women found response in a university.
Before studying at the Jineology Faculty, students study the Kurdish language, computer science, democratic modernity, sociology, and science at high school. At the Faculty of Jineology, Social Sciences, and Literature, the students study history, philosophy, ecology, the role of women in religion and beliefs, sociology of freedom, ethics, aesthetics, research methods, methods to collect data, and pedagogy.
The Faculty of Jineology, Social Sciences and Literature managed to attract the attention of the whole world as soon as it was established. Many foreigners have visited the faculty and attended conferences and seminars to learn more about it. Jineology aims to build a free, equal life model that has aroused great interest all over the world.
Dicle Kulilk, academic, and spokesperson of the Faculty of Jineology, spoke JINHA about the purpose of the establishment of the Faculty of Jineology, Social Sciences and Literature, and its four-year work.
Establishment of the Faculty of Jineology
“The Faculty of Jineology was established at the Rojava University. We faced many difficulties in the establishment process because the sociology of Jineology was not well known in society. We also faced difficulties in finding teachers/academics because no one had studied at the Faculty of Jineology before. To overcome all difficulties, we determined people and provided training to them about the science of Jineology. We began to receive students in 2017 and now many students visit the faculty. We have received applications. All students are interested in the Faculty of Jineology. We first give information about the aims and purposes of the faculty. In the beginning, the number of students was few, because they did not know anything about Jineology, so we distributed brochures to promote it. We also tried to make this science known through the press outlets. Over time, this science has been known by the whole society and we have held many seminars about it. We have also prepared many reports. The first year was an experience for us,” Dicle Kulilk told JINHA.
“Women can reveal their thousands of years of energy”
“The science of Jineology was proposed by Abdullah Öcalan in his book entitled ‘Sociology of Freedom’ in 2008. When the first studies were carried out about this science in Rojava Kurdistan, we asked ourselves, “On which basis will we inform women?” Before our students got to know the science of Jineology, they believed in the ideas of their fathers and brothers. After studying Jineology, they became aware of the patriarchal mindset. Our aim is to reveal women’s thousands of years of energy and their firm stance. We aim to eliminate the ideology that looks down on women and to reveal the reality of women. The Revolution in Rojava is known as a women’s revolution. Women formed their forces in this revolution and revealed their existing power in culture-art, society, economy, diplomacy, military, and politics. I can say that Jineology is the second revolution here after the revolution in Rojava.”
“The Faculty of Jineology has been active for two years”
“The Faculty of Jineology has been active for two years. There are two stages of education. At high school, the students take Jineology courses in order not to have difficulties when they study at the faculty. They study Kurdish language, computer science, and introduction to Jineology, democratic modernity, sociology, and science at high school. At the Faculty of Jineology, Social Sciences, and Literature, the students study history, philosophy, ecology, the role of women in religion and beliefs, sociology of freedom, ethics, aesthetics, research methods, methods to collect data, and pedagogy. The most important course is the theory of equality and liberation of women. This course is both theoretical and practical course.”
“Students work for women’s institutions”
“After they graduate from the faculty, women begin to work for women’s institutions. They also give information about this science at schools and organizations. We always visit them. There are really visible changes in the personalities of those who are interested in Jineology and work on it. Those who study Jineology understand themselves better. So far, none of our students have been unemployed because they share what they learned with society. The first graduates of the faculty have worked for women’s organizations and institutions. The final year undergraduate students of the faculty have studied to graduate from the university. There are second-year students of the faculty. There are also students, who study Jineology at high school. They will study at the faculty after graduating from high school. There are male and female students at the faculty but the number of women is higher than men. Some Arab organizations also suggested opening an Arabic department in the Faculty of Jineology. Of course, we also take this suggestion into consideration.”
“Equal life in faculty”
“Apart from Rojava Kurdistan, the Faculty of Jineology has also attracted the attention of German institutions. We even held many seminars in partnership with German institutions. We have been working on writing a book about gender-based violence. Many foreigners have visited the faculty and attended conferences and seminars to learn more about it. Foreigners are interested in living in the faculty. We hold seminars to strengthen students’ relationships with each other. Now we can say that there is no difference between teachers and students because we believe in an equal life. Teachers and students learn many things from each other.”
Read the second post in this series in full.
Nûjîn Derya: Jinwar is the place of women’s management
“The first thing that people think about Jinwar is the communal life, the free-equal life,” Nûjin Derya, member of Jineology Academy and one of the founders of Jinwar (women’s village) village, said.
The village of Jinwar is located in the western part of the ed-Derbasiah district in al-Hasakah canton in North Syria. The revolution in Rojava is also known as a women’s revolution. The village of Jinwar is one of the achievements of women. It is based on the principle of free-equal life and aims to give women a safe place to live without violence and oppression. The construction of the houses in the village, also known as the land of women, started on March 10, 2017. It was officially inaugurated on 25 November 2018, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.
There is an academy, hospital, supermarket, women’s healing center called, “Şîfa Jin” where patients are treated with herbs, a tailor shop, and a school for children. Women provide the security of the village.
[JINHA] spoke to Nûjin Derya, a member of Jineology Academy and one of the founders of Jinwar, about the village.
“Before speaking about the village, I want to say that I am a member of the Jineology Academy and one of the founders of Jinwar village. We worked hard to found the village. There are all-women’s villages all around the world. For Instance, there is a women’s village in Kenya named Umoja. Women founded the village to protect themselves from male violence. There is also a women’s village in Colombia. The village was built by women who have suffered displacement as a result of Colombia’s fifty-year civil war and domestic violence. There are also women’s villages in Egypt and India. We can see that women had communes and schools in history. In the middle ages, in European countries, women came together as Saints and lived together. Most of the villages in NE Syria have been named after women because women have played a great role in villages.”
“Jinwar’s construction period was very sacred”
“Before Jinwar was founded, everyone dreamed of founding a women’s village. When women were asked about their dreams for the future, almost all of them said their dream was to build a women’s village. After the Revolution in Rojava, women had an opportunity to realize their dream. Women’s organizations and institutions held many meetings to discuss how we could build the village. After discussion, women decided to form a committee to build the village and the construction of the village was to be completed by November 25, 2018. The reason why we decided to complete the construction of the village was to show that women don’t accept violence, occupation, and attacks against women. The construction of the houses in the village started on March 10, 2017. It was officially inaugurated on 25 November 2018, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. But the construction period continued for two years with the effort of hundreds/thousands of people. For this reason, the construction period of the village was a very sacred period for us. Many men said, “Women cannot live alone in a village.” But then they realized that women managed to build a village on their own. They are convinced that women can live alone.”
“Jinwar is a part of women’s revolution”
“The first thing that people think about Jinwar is the communal life, the free-equal life of society. Children and women live together in the village. People living in the village express their thoughts and ideas freely. The people of the village can establish relations with their neighbors, nature, the region, and even with the whole world. Jinwar is a part of the women’s revolution. This revolution had a great impact on people of all ages. Jinwar is a space to struggle for freedom and life.”
“Jinwar means communal life”
“The system in Jinwar was set up by women’s experiences. It is based on the ideology of a democratic nation. The society organizes itself freely and consciously in this village. I should say that the construction of the village continues and it will always continue with innovations. No one can live individually in Jinwar because there is a communal life in the village and everyone has a relationship with everyone. The village has an assembly and the assembly holds meetings. At the meeting, women discuss the problems they face and their solutions. There is a self-criticism mechanism in the village. Jinwar is in touch with all regions of NE Syria. There is an academy in the village because education is very important to build a democratic nation system. Education can change a society. There is a school named Mother Uweyş for children. There is also a women’s healing center named ‘Şîfa Jin’.”
“Freedom is the cure of all diseases”
“Health is a very important issue if we want to build a free society. There aren’t only physical diseases. The economy and system cause many diseases. All diseases cannot be treated with medicines. In Jinwar, community health is important for us. First, we must determine our diseases and then change our lives. If we want to have a healthy life, we must first build a healthy and ecological life. Şîfa Jin provides treatment to patients with herbs. The women working for Şîfa Jin produce medicines with herbs by using scientific knowledge. Women receive training on health. The philosophy of the Şîfa Jin is ‘freedom is the cure for all diseases, and freedom heals diseases’.”
“Security is an important issue,” Nûjin Derya said, “Because there is an ongoing war in NE Syria. We have faced the attacks of the enemy and patriarchal mindset. Many men still do not accept the existence of women. In Jıinwar, security doesn’t mean only military, it means the establishment of good relations, knowing each other, establishing good relations with nature and soil. All these are a method of self-defense.”
“We should first understand the reason for problems”
“Although there is a communal life in Jinwar, we sometimes have problems, too. Women often run away from problems they face and they don’t want to see them. But in Jinwar, we discuss problems we have faced and try to solve them together. We should first understand the reasons for problems before solving them. Sometimes, we cannot solve problems by discussing them so we solve these problems in life.”
“Boys grow up as non-violent, democratic and free individuals”
“There are also boys in Jinwar. This village is also their village. If they want to leave the village when they grow up, they can. To have a free-equal life, both sexes should understand each other. The boys in the village grow up as non-violent, democratic, and free individuals. This is great hope for the future.”
“Jinwar is a place for education”
“Jinwar is the place of women’s management. Many committees have been formed in the village. Many families and men have visited the village. Jinwar is not only a place for living but also for education. Jinwar is like an academy and people visiting the village learn many things from the life in the village. The women living in the village have built a free-equal life with their children.”
“Jinwar is based on the principle of communal economy”
“Jinwar is based on the principle of communal economy. It is a self-sufficient village. The women living in the village plant trees, wheat, and barley and raise animals. There is a bakery in the village. Women bake their own bread. We also have vineyards and orchards. The economy of the village is the communal economy.”
“The door of Jinwar is open to all women”
“Jinwar is a very important and meaningful place. For this reason, it is necessary to share the development and experiences in the village with the whole world. The door of the village is open to all women, who want to come or visit the village. All women who want to live free, to improve themselves, to learn and teach new things can visit us.”
Read the third article in this series in full.
“Jineology aims to heal the wounds of society with its research”
“The purpose of opening the Jineology research center is to interpret the situation of women and to find solutions to the problems of our society,” Nur Hawıl, a member of the Jineology Education and Research Center in Cizîr Region, said.
Jineology Education and Research Center was founded on September 14, 2017, to research the problems of society and produce solutions to these problems. Jineology is based on the principle of interpretation. The center has carried out works for both sexes to work for society. It aims to get to know society by interpreting every aspect of society. Jineology reinterprets women’s history with intellectual and correct concepts and keeps women’s intellectuality alive.
Nur Hawıl, a member of the Jineology Education and Research Center in Cizîr Region, spoke to JINHA about the aims and purpose of the center.
“The center’s research is carried out with the colors of women”
“Jineology Research Center is known as a science in society. What is important for us is to explain the color and social method of this center to our society. When the center was first founded in Rojava Kurdistan, we wanted to understand the contradictions in our society and warn our society against them. We wanted to understand the problems of our society as the first step. We also introduced the science of Jineology to our society. And then, we began to open our offices in cities. We opened an office, the most important one, in Qamishlo. We opened our first office in the city of Dêrik on September 14, 2017. In the beginning, the number of members of the center was five. Our aim is to interpret the colors of women and reveal the solutions for the existing problems. The center’s research is carried out with the colors of women. Over time, many offices have been opened in many regions of NE Syria.”
“Solutions are found with the colors of women”
“Before researching a basic subject, we must first know the griefs of our society well. The center aims to reveal the wound of society with its research to heal them. It has carried out works for both sexes to deepen its research. If it is necessary to interpret the problems of the whole world, first of all, it is necessary to know society well and to identify the problems and troubles they have faced. Our current research works aim to understand the situation of women, and to learn and understand the situation of men and children. As the center, we both criticize and comment on other research works. The center has carried out its own research work and found solutions with the colors of women. In other words, as the Jineology Research Center, we can say that we understand the griefs experienced by our society at first.”
“The research of Jineology is the definition of truth”
“Each researcher aims to understand the problems, but each researcher defines the problems differently. The difference between the research methods of Jineology and modernity is that the research works of Jineology are carried out by women. Women have been enslaved for five thousand years; their voices have been suppressed, so society is surprised to see that women have carried out the research works by themselves. The research methods of Jineology are libertarian methods and analyze the problems of society with these methods. Jineology researches everything far away from the influence of governments and selfishness. It also has a solution-focused perspective. Those working at the Jineology Research Center should have a perspective that foresees the future of their society, not for themselves, but for their society. Our research works may not show their effect today, but we believe that they will definitely show their effect in a few years. Jineology is also based on the principle of love and respect among people.”
“Jineology researches women’s history with women’s perspective”
“So far, the history of women has been left in the dark. The history of women has been defined in connection with darkness, that is, power. For this reason, Jineology has carried out works to reveal the concepts that define women. Each concept defines women differently. And the history of women has been lost in these concepts. We should interpret the concepts about women. For instance, there were many resisting women in history but the patriarchal mindset accused them of being witches and evil women. Jineology aims to reveal the true history of women, to shed light on intellectual women, women philosophers, and women known as goddesses. We research the role of women in every era and age and the important roles they played.”
“Another aim of Jineology is to define justice between both sexes”
“Another aim of Jineology is to define justice between both sexes. Jineology first defines the situation of women and men in society. It also reveals the contradictions experienced by both sexes. Knowing both genders is essential for Jineology. If you know both genders, you naturally get to know your society. Jineology defends social justice.”
Read the fourth post in this series in full.
“Jineology itself is the community education”
“Women form the core of society, and society builds itself around women. For this reason, Jineology first focuses on the education of women,”Gulistan Osman, a member of the Jineology Education and Research Center in the Qamishlo Canton, said.
Mothers are the first teachers of societies. Mothers pass down their customs, traditions, culture, and history to the next generations. For thousands of years, women have has been teaching and forming societies. Many cultures have still survived thanks to mothers. Education is important for morality and politics to become permanent in societies. Education is a must for humanity.
The education department of Jineology was established in all regions of Northern and Eastern Syria in 2017 with the aim of educating society morally and politically. Gulistan Osman, a member of the Jineology Education and Research Center in the Qamishlo Canton, spoke to JINHA about the education department of Jineology.
“Education is the most important part of the science of Jineology”
Gulistan Osman started her talk by underlining the importance of education. We can say that education is the most important part of human society. Education is important in terms of creating next generations and for the continuation of human society and making human society permanent. In this context, education is the most important part of the science of Jineology. We research, focus on topics that are useful and necessary for society, and educate our society. We make sure that the education we provide is useful for the benefit and spirit of our society. Our education programs are based on the principle of creating change and transformation in society. Jineology itself is community education. In this context, we organize education programs for all women’s institutions and organizations at first. Some other organizations also ask us to organize education programs for them. Before we start our education programs, we first hold meetings and then send invitations to organizations.”
“The education programs of Jineology include all areas of society”
“Our education programs include all areas of society. Women form the core of society, and society builds itself around women. For this reason, Jineology first focuses on the education of women. Since Jineology creates a free and equal living space, we have educated both sexes. In addition, we have provided education programs for youth and children and organized many activities for them. Our mothers and grandmothers are our real teachers in Jineology because we get many perspectives and information from them. We take advice from our mothers and grandmothers because they have witnessed and experienced many things.”
“Jineology aims to build a common life against the capitalist system”
“As a field of science, Jineology criticizes the capitalist system. We are in the 21st century and the capitalist system damages societies. In western countries, the capitalist system has worn out many families, corrupted people’s personalities, and controlled people from the distance. The capitalist system has killed people in its routinized form and left no emotion. Capitalism has imposed money and materiality on society and put spirituality under pressure. Against the capitalist system, Jineology Academy aims to build an equal life, a sensitive mind, and a conscious life for people.”
Read the fifth post in this series in full.
Works of Jineology in the regions of NE Syria
Members of Jineology, who have carried out works in NE Syria, emphasized that Jineology opens women’s eyes, “Women should put Jineology in the center of their lives.”
The science of Jineology sheds light on women and society. Jineology organizes in all regions of Northern and Eastern Syria and carries out women’s studies. Jineology aims to build an equal, fair, free-communal life. Women of NE Syria see Jineology as a rebirth of themselves.
Jineology Research Center opened its office in Tabqa on October 26, 2020, in Kobanî on March 6, 2019, in Afrin in 2017, in Shehba in January 2021. The members of Jineology working in the fields spoke to JINHA about the importance of Jineology.
“Jineology illuminates the path of Arab women”
Speaking about her work in Tabqa and Raqqa regions, Jineology Research Center member Mariya Musa said:
“We have carried out the works of Jineology in Raqqa and Tabqa. Jineology is an alternative to the existing sociology. Jineology Research Center opened its office in Tabqa on October 26, 2020. In the beginning, we had many difficulties, but we managed to establish the perspective we wanted to create in society. Our aim is to illuminate the path of Arab women, to stand by them, and to make them struggle against customs and show their will. We publish a magazine on the science of Jineology every month and distribute it to the Arab community. We also give lectures to non-governmental institutions and organizations about Jineology. Jineology also shows its influence among Arab men and we manage to attract their attention because many men try to satisfy their curiosity by asking questions about Jineology. We have launched a campaign against polygamy and child marriage and reached 170 families until now. Our aim is to spread the science of Jineology among Arab women. Jineolgy illuminates the path of women. For this reason, women should put Jineology in the center of their lives. Our demand from the Arab community is to fight against polygamy, child marriage, and gender-based violence.”
“Jineology shows its perspective in Kobanî”
Rima Ehmed is a member of the Jineology Research Center in Kobanî. She said:
“The office of the Jineology Research Center officially opened in Kobanî on March 6, 2019. We focus on education first and then research. We have carried out activities for women and provided many education programs for women. We have also provided education programs for women working for women’s organizations. Our aim is to spread the science of Jineology in society. We have conducted research on many issues such as demographic change, occupation of the regions of NE Syria, migration, and herbal medicine. We also conducted a study on the sociology of Arab women. We have held panels on Jineology in the Euphrates region. The panels are about gender-based violence, femicide, and child marriage. These panels have had a great impact on women and society. Recently, we have conducted research on suicide among women and the reasons that cause women to commit suicide. Since Jineology is a social science, we aim to research everything from the root. We aim to solve the problems of our society by sharing our research results with our society. For this reason, we can say that Jineology shows its perspective in the city of Kobanî.”
“People of Manbij organize themselves with Jineology”
Yasmin Qojo, a member of the Jineology Research Center in Manbij, told us their activities in Manbij:
“Our office was opened in Manbij in 2018. As a first step, we gave information about Jineology to institutions and organizations, and society. Since this science is new in society, it has attracted the attention of the people of Manbij. We have conducted our research on the problems of our society. There is a tribal system in Manbij so we have conducted our research about this system. We have conducted research about the traditions of our society from history to the present to find permanent solutions to the problems. After Manbij was liberated from ISIS, the city needed Jineology to get rid of its black color. We have conducted research about customs, social and economic problems faced by women. After the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, many women have been subjected to domestic violence and we have distributed leaflets to raise awareness of the public about domestic violence. We held the first workshop on business and ethics in Manbij. We have conducted research about the increasing rate of suicide among women, victims of the war. We have launched a campaign to raise awareness of the public about the harms, causes, and negative effects of child marriage on women. We organized a youth camp in order to increase the level of education of young people.”
“Jineology is loved by the people of Afrin and Shehba”
Zahide Memo is a member of the Jineology Research Center in Afrin and Shehba. She told us their activities in these cities:
“Our office was opened in Afrin in 2017. We have kept working in Shehba due to the occupation of Afrin. We began to work on women, society, sociology, and women’s history in Afrin. We first started carrying out our activities in schools of Afrin. We gave information about the science of Jineology to all institutions and organizations of Afrin. After the Turkish state carried out its invasion attack on Afrin, we had to open our office in Shehba in January 2021. We have carried out our activities for Afrin and Shehba regions. In the upcoming days, we will conduct research about the history of Shehba.”
“Jineology finds solutions to problems in Aleppo”
Nujiyan Hisên, a member of the Jineology Research Center in Aleppo, spoke to JINHA about their activities:
“Our office was officially opened in Aleppo on April 3, 2021. Since we opened our office, we have given information about Jineology to our society, institutions, and organizations. We have conducted research on stories and tales of women and society. We have worked coordinately with other institutions and organizations to carry out our activities in Aleppo. Our aim is to reveal the reality of society and women with science. We also aim to identify the problems of society and women correctly and find solutions to them. The science of Jineology aims to research history deeply and accurately. We held workshops in Şêx Meqsud and Eşrefiye for both women and men.”
