Inka Sirén

Inka Sirén

Researcher

B.Soc.Sc., Social and public policy

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045 224 1071

Introduction

Currently, I work in a research project Promoting Youth Involvement and Social Engagement (PROMISE 2016–2019). The project is part of a larger project funded by the European Union, studying the social changes in societies, particularly emphasising the role of the youth and generational relationships in those changes. Overall, the whole project consists of national case studies studying various groups of young people and their role in the society.

Before, I worked as a researcher in a research project Young LGBTIQ people in mental health and substance abuse services (2015-2016), reviewing mental health and substance abuse services from the perspective of young LGBTIQ people. Before that, I worked as a research assistant in a project From father to son - cross-generational defence will in Finland after second world war (2014-2016). Originally, I started working in Finnish Youth Research Network as an intern in 2015, organising an international research seminar and collecting data for a research project studying drug related deaths in Finland (Suomalainen huumekuolema 2012 (2015-2016)).

Alongside the research work, I'm finishing my Master's degree at the University of Helsinki. I major in social and public policy, and I've studied gender studies and social psychology as my minor subjects. In my Master's thesis I study young LGBTIQ people's experiences of heteronormative violence from the perspective of power, norms and agency.
Some of my fields of expertise and of special interest are, among others, questions of disability and ability, body positivity, otherness, agency, diversity of gender, sex and sexuality, equality and inequality, attitudes and social taboos, and questions of power, control and normativity.

Education
- 2013-(ongoing) Master of Social Sciences (M.Soc.Sc.), University of Helsinki, The Faculty of Social Sciences, The Department of Social Research, Social and public policy
- 2009-2013 Bachelor of Social Sciences (B.Soc.Sc.), University of Helsinki, The Faculty of Social Sciences, The Department of Social Research, Social and public policy

Work experience
- Research assistant, Promoting Youth Involvement and Social Engagement (PROMISE 2016–2019) (FYRN), 9/2017-(ongoing)
- Researcher, Young LGBTIQ people in mental health and substance abuse services (FYRN), 11/2016-3/2017. 
- Research assistant, From father to son - cross-generational defence will in Finland after second world war (FYRN), 8-10/2016
- Intern (FYRN), 5-6/2016
- Transcription assignment, AMIS - Arjen ammattilaiset (Ehkäisevä päihdetyö EHYT ry), 8/2014-1/2015
- Report assignment, Part-Time Work in the Nordic Region (Nordic Information on Gender (NIKK)), 5/2014

Languages
Finnish (native), English (fluent), Swedish (intermediate), Italian (elementary)

Seminars & public appearances
- "Ehkä ne on senkin takia ollu hiljaa" - sateenkaarinuoret ja moninaisuuden huomioiminen. National Institute for Health and Welfare, group meeting on qualitative research, 14.9.2017
- "Ehkä ne on senkin takia ollu hiljaa" - ammattilaisten valmiudet kohdata sateenkaarinuoria ja huomioida moninaisuutta päihde- ja mielenterveyspalveluissa. Publication of research report, 13.6.2017
- Sateenkaarinuoret päihde- ja mielenterveyspalveluissa. Workshops for professionals, 16.5.2016 & 1.6.2016
- Sateenkaarinuoret päihde- ja mielenterveyspalveluissa. Workshop for young LGBTIQ people, 25.5.2016
- Sateenkaarinuoret - miten antaa tilaa moninaisuudelle?. Workshop on the Allianssi Cruise, 14.4.2016
- Heteronormatiivinen väkivalta. The Annual Sociology Conference. Jyväskylä, 18.3.2016
- Sateenkaarinuoret päihde- ja mielenterveyspalveluissa. The Annual Sociology Conference. Jyväskylä, 17.3.2016
- Sateenkaarinuorten kokemukset heteronormatiivisesta väkivallasta - valta, normit, toimijuus. The Finnish Conference of Youth Studies. Tampere, 13.11.2015
- Sateenkaarinuorten kokemukset heteronormatiivisesta väkivallasta - valta, normit, toimijuus. The Annual Conference of Social Policy. Helsinki, 22.10.2015

Positions of trust
- Finnish Youth Research Society Board: researcher member 2016.
- University of Helsinki, The Faculty of Social Sciences, Student Organisation for Social Policy, Stigma ry: auditor 2011-2012
- University of Helsinki, The Faculty of Social Sciences: Social policy tutor 2010-2011

Other
- Member of the working group on equality planning 2016
- The Social Policy Association in Finland: member 2016-
- Finnish Youth Research Society: member 2016-
- HeSeta ry: youth work volunteer 2014
- The Association for Gender Studies in Finland: member 2013-2014
- Helsingin YK-nuoret HYKY ry: member 2009-2010
- R.I.SO. Consorzio Sociale, Torino: care work volunteer 2007-2008

LinkedIn: fi.linkedin.com/in/inkasiren

Projects