International Gender Week, 2010
Summary
Women and Men: Project week at university
Whether in family life, leisure or work – women and men take on different roles. This is usually seen as a problem, and less often as an opportunity. From Monday 22 November, International Gender Week at the University of Würzburg will be exploring some lesser-known aspects of this topic.
The term ‘gender’ refers to the socially defined and personally experienced roles of the sexes. For example, masculinity has traditionally been associated with qualities such as strength or dominance, whilst femininity is often seen as the opposite. Much has changed in this area, but some things have remained the same.
The project week explores how gender roles differ around the world, and where the differences and similarities lie. Twenty alumni from all over the world are returning to their former university especially for this occasion. Their diverse cultural backgrounds offer unique insights – for example, into the issue of gender equality in the Congo.
The project week has three main themes: Gender and Education (Tuesday, 23 November), Gender, Law and Culture (Wednesday, 24 November), and Gender in Everyday Business Life (Thursday, 25 November). The workshops and discussions are open to anyone interested, as is the varied evening programme.
Education and Gender at Wittelsbacherplatz
Education and gender will be discussed on Tuesday 23 November at ‘Kunstraum No. 150’ on Wittelsbacherplatz. Former students of the university, who now hold a wide variety of positions abroad, will gather there.
Working life, theatre, the press and literature
Together with actors from the Mainfranken Theatre and the dramaturg Kai Tuchmann, topics such as the construction of roles and identities will be discussed (Thursday, 25 November, theatre foyer). The programme also includes a panel discussion on gender and working life, as well as a workshop on the portrayal of roles in press articles and literature.
Cuisine, Wine and Cabaret
An intercultural cooking and dining experience will take place on Wednesday 24 November in the canteen: ‘Experiencing gender at the table at home and abroad’. Four Latin American female chefs and the Student Union’s head chef will be cooking together. The international theatre group “Tschungulung” will be helping to organise the evening. Admission and food are free; the event starts at 6.30 pm, and registration is requested.
Gender Week draws to a close on Friday in the Hofkeller at the Residenz: linguist Professor Nobert Richard Wolf will give a talk on “Language & Wine”, followed by cabaret artist Heike Mix, who will tackle the theme of “Men & Women” in her own unique way.
Organisers and programme
Gender Week is organised by the University of Würzburg Alumni Network and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), which is funding the project. The full programme, contact details and further information can be found on the Alumni Network’s website.
