Beschreibung

The effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, despite the internationally diverse lived experiences, socio-political and economic contexts, put once more a spotlight on one common denominator around the world: the persistence of significant gender inequalities. The global pandemic revealed intensified gender inequalities around health and access to health care, distribution of care work, gainful employment and income, and the risks of being subjected to gender-based violence, just to mention a few dimensions of gender inequalities. An international body of evidence is expanding on the negative impact of gender inequalities on the wellbeing and prosperity of individuals and societies. At the same time, we observe how long fought-for women rights, such as the legal right to abortion (see e.g. USA) or the right to education (see e.g. Afghanistan) are put into question by deepening ideological and political rifts and with anti-gender rhetoric gaining popularity. Showcasing and discussing feminist perspectives on social policy and women’s social welfare worldwide is thus more topical than ever.

This lecture series brings together diverse feminist approaches to social welfare, highlighting theoretical debate, policy and practice examples from around the world. Feminisms, in their aims to address gender inequalities, fight against women’s oppression and improve the lives of women (cis and queer), has taken different paths, forms and orientations in different cultural, religious, political and legal contexts. This lecture series sets different feminist perspectives on social policy and social welfare in conversation to each other to encourage ongoing feminist debate: e.g. between liberal feminist theory and relational ethic of care theory; across different policy fields (e.g. reproductive health, work/family balance, poverty and social security) and international social welfare contexts, and between feminist practice and activism in different countries and world regions (e.g. reproductive rights campaigns in the US, Southeastern Europe, and Latin America).

The lecture series thus on the one hand, critically examines the normative underpinnings and social, economic and political dynamics that lead to gendered inequalities, while encouraging international dialogue between multiple gender-sensitive perspectives aimed at improving social welfare and wellbeing in theory, policy and practice.