Annual conference of the Federal Conference of Women's and Equal Opportunities Officers of Universities e.v.

With the rise of right-wing populist and far-right movements, anti-feminist attacks have also become stronger across Europe in recent years. Antifeminism is hostile to gender-equitable attitudes, structures and measures, defames gender studies and opposes the right to sexual and gender diversity. Antifeminism is a central component of right-wing populist and far-right movements in Europe. It is intertwined with attitudes of group-based misanthropy such as racism, anti-Semitism, trans- and homophobia as well as a völkisch world view. Anti-feminist positions form a hinge function for expressions of sympathy and alliances that extend far into the so-called social and political center.

Against this backdrop, gender policy actors, gender researchers and people affected by (multiple) discrimination are increasingly exposed to anti-feminist attacks, for example through digital violence, personal defamation and threats as well as the discrediting of their work.

Anti-feminist positions and actions are attacks on basic democratic values, emancipatory achievements and science, and the bukof annual conference 2024 will confront this in a variety of ways. We analyze anti-feminist ideologies, strategies and discourse practices and look at the connections to other forms of discrimination. The focus is on the university context - anti-feminist hostility towards science, questioning of gender equality policies and anti-feminist tendencies in science. Workshops, lectures and panel discussions will provide a space for reflection to develop strategies for action by gender equality actors, to look at the role of university leaders, to address academic organizations and to strengthen overarching alliances against anti-feminism at local, state and national political level.

Program

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