Feminism

In 2021, Germany’s federal government joined a global trend when it committed itself in its coalition agreement to a feminist foreign policy. Sweden, Canada, Luxembourg, France, Mexico, Spain, Libya, Chile and the Netherlands had already declared that their foreign policy – or parts of it – would be given a feminist orientation. But what is meant by such a policy approach and what form does it take in practice in Germany?

There is no way to bury Bolsonarism without discussing the deep connections with misogyny that underlie its discourses and practices. This far-right populism is, at its core, a gift to the common man, disgruntled with women’s advancement in contemporary society.

Anti-feminist narratives are mainstays of the radical right. In his letter, Tobias Ginsburg shares observations from his undercover investigations of far-right groups and organizations, and points up the importance of misogyny and toxic masculinity as a political tool.

Gender Politics has emerged as the center of mainstream Korean politics. The media and politicians are calling out keywords such as ‘gender conflict’, ‘women and men in their twenties’, and the reboot and backlash of feminism.

Violence against women in Mexico has not one, but many faces. Its worst one is femicide, although it is not the only one. Antifeminism also occurs silently and is veiled at all levels of society.
 

India is the world’s largest democracy, leading the narrative of inclusivity, sovereignty, pluralism, and gender parity from the front. But as the country celebrates its 75th year of independence with much pomp and show, nearly 50% of its population of women and girls remain excluded from enjoying their equal rights across the country and struggle to find a rightful spot in its patriarchal political space.
 

Right-wing populism nowadays often focuses on rejection and resistance to feminism, equality and gender politics. Our five authors from Mexico, Brazil, India, Germany and South Korea resume their observations and make clear that right-wing populism influences gender-specific minority politics and signifies a serious threat to democracy.

Same-sex marriage and the third gender are legally recognized in Germany. But what are the consequences for the families concerned? An interview with professor of family law Nina Dethloff.

The problem of unpaid care work is attracting increasing attention. But what are so-called queer care communities and why are they still needed? Alek B. Gerber describes how people feel compelled to close the supply gaps in public nursing care themselves.
 

At the beginning of 2019, population registers in Germany were amended to include a third gender category. The option box is headed ‘divers’, which translates as ‘miscellaneous’ or ‘other’, and it was introduced for a dual purpose: to remove the burden from parents faced with deciding an intersex child’s future and to show that being different can also be normal.

International, emotional, immediate: the Berlinale “Panorama” section tracks down some outstanding works on the international cinema scene. In this context, the focus is on bold and unconventional feature films and documentaries that occupy a space close to the social and political zeitgeist. Michael Stütz, head of the Panorama section, talks about the most important themes and trends – and tells us what’s so special about his work.
 

Why do we believe storytellers? And why do they sometimes have to lie to us? A discussion in German with Shida Bazyar about female, post-migrant writing, the NSU and literary criticism.

Why do we attach so much importance to gender? What would society look like without it? In this opinion piece, sociologist Alice Rombach dreams of a more diverse world. 

Women still do most of the housework. So is sustainability in everyday life and in the home mainly up to women? Gotelind Alber, a climate policy expert specializing in related gender issues, addresses the “eco gender gap” in the following interview.

 

Cities have the potential to improve women’s lives. But in reality, the planning of urban spaces often prioritises men’s routines and sidelines women’s needs and habits. What does a feminist city look like?

Diversity is not easy, but beautiful in many ways. The path towards equality mustn’t be a maze, but a community garden. In her essay, Dr. Michaela Dudley shows that the women’s movement can only hope for lasting progress if we understand it as intersectional. 

The majority of the world’s poor are women, they rely heavily on natural resources to provide for their families and they have no access to decision-making processes in many areas of the world. Dr Shouraseni Sen Roy shows how women are significantly affected more by the consequences of climate change. 

All over the world, nature is being exploited, plundered, polluted. But how is this connected to patriarchy and our understanding of the human being? The Brazilian artist and researcher Mari Fraga looks at the environment from an ecofeminist perspective and finds an answer to these questions.

Since time immemorial, Western literature has been characterised by stereotypical notions of gender. Myths and fairy tales, classical and modern literature are teeming with brave courageous heroes and long-suffering female figures. What is going on here and what is the negotiation actually about?

A young doctor and his excesses thrill India’s cinemagoers. The Bollywood drama, Kabir Singh, is the most successful film of the year so far. Yet many critics are appalled.

The gaming industry has not only attracted more and more female customers in recent decades; it has also produced a large number of memorable heroines. Yet gender stereotypes still persist today.

The German language, like the French, is considered male-dominated. In recent years, there have therefore been numerous attempts to get to the root of the problem in the language on both sides of the Rhine and fix it. And so here too the battle of the sexes has been raging.
 

Computer game development and programming was once a field largely dominated by men. But there is a sea change underway: we spoke to five women from the gaming industry.

Gender imbalances and pay gaps, structural oppression and sexual abuse are enduring evils in the jazz scene that need to be addressed now, insists Sophie Emilie Beha. 

Since 2016, women in Poland have been taking to the streets for their rights. They continue to demonstrate, fighting one of the most restrictive abortion laws in Europe. Illustrator Magdalena Kaszuba tells their story in a comic. 

Western media often reproduce the picture of the suppressed Iranian woman. That harms all the women in Iran who for decades have been standing up for their freedom and rights despite great risks and the threat of persecution.

Dashing young men, docile beauties, languorous glances – in Indian films gender roles are usually clearly defined. However, a growing number of Indian women are increasingly unwilling to accept the stereotypes.

The photo of a Black woman on the white Brazilian grandmother’s kitchen wall of author Alma Kaiser gives rise to many questions. Her grandmother calls the woman her “mãe preta”. But who was she really?

The All-Poland Women's Strike is a movement that has mobilised people from big cities and small towns throughout the country. Co-initiator Marta Lempart explains the social and political changes driven by the strike and why it has turned into an anti-government protest.