TRAWOS Institute contributes to equality in socio-ecological transformation!
The research projects of the TRAWOS Institute play an important role in the German government's Fourth Gender Equality Report, which places particular emphasis on gender equality in socio-ecological transformation. Published in March, the report highlights expertise from Lusatia when it comes to gender equality policy challenges in rural areas and regions undergoing transformation. A central theme of the report is equal opportunities for women and men in social change. Innovative approaches to equality are being tested, particularly in Lusatia, which is undergoing structural change from a coal-mining to an innovation region. The research at the TRAWOS Institute provides important impetus for the report's analysis and recommendations for action. The following research and transfer activities of the TRAWOS Institute are highlighted:
Two activities that emerged from the TRAWOS project „F wie Kraft” (F for Power) are mentioned as examples. One is the position paper published by the municipal equal opportunities officers of Lusatia with the support of Marie Melzer, Julia Gabler, and Pauline Voigt and the other is the project „Frauen als Wirtschaftsfaktor für die Lausitz. Perspektiven von Frauen auf den Strukturwandel in der Lausitz“ (Women as an economic factor for Lusatia. Perspectives of women on structural change in Lusatia) led by Professor Raj Kollmorgen, staff members Marie Melzer and Pauline Voigt and in collaboration with Wirtschaftsregion Lausitz GmbH. Further TRAWOS expertise from Markus Will and Professor Raj Kollmorgen was incorporated into the final report „Nachhaltige Kommunalentwicklung im Strukturwandel“ (Sustainable Municipal Development in Structural Change) by the Umweltbundesamt. In addition, the paper "Zur (Daten-)Lage von Frauen im Strukturwandel der Lausitz" (On the (data) situation of women in the structural change of Lusatia), published in 2023 by Julia Gabler and Sinziana Schönfelder, attracted attention. It was produced in cooperation with the ifab – Institute for Applied Participation. This work identifies data gaps and emphasizes the need to take greater account of women as active players in structural change. The Bündnis der kommunalen Gleichstellungsbeauftragten der Lausitz, which has been supported by the TRAWOS Institute for several years, published an updated position paper in July 2023 in collaboration with TRAWOS member Julia Gabler, among others. It formulates demands for a gender-sensitive database, training for managers on gender equality and comprehensive participation of the population in the structural change process.
These diverse initiatives underscore the TRAWOS Institute's commitment to gender equality in the structural transformation of Lusatia and have now been recognized at the federal level.
