GenderCompetence

The GenderCompetenceCenter was engaged in the fields of equality, anti-discrimination and diversity politics, while simultaneously pursuing the ongoing critique and reworking of these notions. Equality, anti-discrimination policies and recognition of individual differences are preconditions to the forms of socio-cultural and political participation that unfold transformative force rather than affirming society’s status quo. Accordingly, demands for equality, anti-discrimination and social diversity are core pieces of emancipatory and transformative politics that promote social and global change in order to serve up justice — even though under pluralist conditions understandings of justice remain necessarily controversial.

The GenderCompetenceCenter deployed a concept of equality politics that challenges all kinds of social inequalities and also does not limit gender to the binary of women and men. Furthermore, it understood the analysis of relations of power and domination and its historical changes as an inherent part of equality politics. Equality, anti-discrimination and diversity politics are understood as contributing to an ongoing process of dehierarchizing systemic power relations. It fosters non-hierarchical articulations of difference and advances and works to facilitate the abolishment of social exclusions and coercive normalizations.

The GenderCompetenceCenter participated in public and academic debates and discourses on equality, anti-discrimination and diversity politics. For this matter the Center was engaged in academic research, political education, political consulting and policy-making as well as in the critique of media and political representation. It organized conferences, lectures, seminars and events, which support public articulation, exchange, and controversy.