Diversity Day 2025
Leuphana University is taking part in the nationwide ‘Diversity Day’ for the ninth time.
This year's Diversity Day at Leuphana will focus on the topic of ‘anti-feminism’. Right-wing populist and radical right-wing movements have been on the rise in Europe in recent years, and with them anti-feminist attacks. Antifeminism is an ideology that is directed against gender-equitable attitudes and measures and undermines the rights of women and gender diversity. It is closely linked to other forms of group-based hostility such as racism, anti-Semitism, trans- and homophobia and a nationalist world view. Antifeminism is supported by social movements or social, political, religious and academic currents that are organised against feminism.
28 May 2025 12:30-14:30: diversu e.V. information stand in front of the canteen
To mark Diversity Day, the Lüneburg-based association Diversu e.V. is presenting its work in the field of anti-discrimination counseling. Diversu's Independent Discrimination Office has been offering advice in cases of discrimination since May 2020. The counseling team offers a protected space on campus to talk about what you have experienced and develop options for action.
The diversu team is happy to talk to you and answer your questions. Feel free to drop by! We look forward to seeing you!
You can find more information about the counseling services here.
27 May 2025 12.30-14.30: Antifeminism as a central far-right strategy
with Prof. Dr. Esther Lehnert
Anti-feminism is a central ideological component of the extreme right and at the same time functions as a successful strategy for its normalisation. In particular, the high degree of connectivity to the social ‘centre’ and the widespread dissemination of anti-feminism in all social groups and milieus (and thus also at universities) sometimes makes it difficult to analyse and develop counter-strategies. The lecture deals with the particularities of extreme right-wing antifeminism, its historical genesis and antifeminist extreme right-wing campaigns.
The event will take place in C40.601. No registration is necessary. The event is held in German.
Speaker: Prof. Dr Esther Lehnert is a qualified educationalist and Professor of Theory, History and Practice of Social Work at the Alice Salomon University of Applied Sciences Berlin. She conducts research on right-wing extremism and gender and is an advisor to the Amadeu Antonio Foundation's Gender and Right-Wing Extremism Centre.
The welcome address will be given by the President Prof. (HSG) Dr. Sascha Spoun.
27 May 2025 16:00-17.30: Antifeminism and queerphobia as a threat to democracy
with Wiebke Eltze
Anti-feminism is highly political and fights against an all-powerful imagined feminism and, above all, the actors and organisations that are associated with it. We are then dealing with so-called pro-life activists or men's or fathers' rights activists who organise themselves against a supposed ‘parent-child alienation’ or the accusation of ‘attachment intolerance’.
Conspiracy narratives and threat scenarios are often linked to this, with talk of ‘state feminism’ or the ‘totalitarian state doctrine of feminism’. What characterises the social connectivity of these positions? Where exactly do they tie in with political developments? Which networks finance which forms of influence?
What can we do to counter this, how can we gain confidence in dealing with these positions and individuals? How can we find allies and strengthen our solidarity - against ‘silencing’ and the danger of being a ‘lone fighter’?
The event will take place in C25.019. No registration is required. The event is held in German.
About the speaker:
Wiebke Eltze is a graduate political scientist and trainer for political education with a focus on democracy and plurality. She has been working as an education officer for the Amadeu Antonio Foundation since 2021.
28 May 2025 11:00-12:30: TradWife and right-wing momfluencers - right-wing images of motherhood and parenting in social media
Online-event with Viktoria Rösch
On social media, we encounter images of motherhood and parenting tips on a daily basis, sometimes humorous, sometimes highly romanticised. Right-wing, conservative and anti-feminist actors are part of this discourse, spreading their ideas about role models, motherhood and parenting. On platforms such as Instagram, TikTok and Pinterest, supposedly traditional gender images are staged in aesthetic, often idealised pictures. Self-proclaimed ‘tradwives’ combine nostalgia and a longing for a supposedly simpler, more original time with a strictly binary understanding of gender. In this lecture, we will take a critical look at this phenomenon, shed light on interfaces and ask on what social ground these images grow. Why do we find some of them appealing? How can we counter this? The lecture will also place the depictions in historical discourses on femininity, motherhood and education and offer space for exchange and discussion.
About the speaker: Viktoria Rösch is a research associate in the project "Interactions between social gender relations and the contemporary extreme right. Dynamics - Effects - Ambivalences" (GERDEA) at the Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences.
The event will take place via Zoom. Please register at familienservice@leuphana.de. The event is held in German.
4. June 2025, 13:00-14:30: Science hostility and hate speech: How can we respond?
Insights from Scicomm-Support (with Kristin Küter and Julia Wandt)
Science hostility and hate speech against researchers, science communicators and research institutions have increased noticeably, not least due to the coronavirus pandemic. But how can science communication respond to such attacks, prepare for them and find support? This talk offers insights into the topic, presents advice and support services offered by the national contact point Scicomm-Support and provides first practical steps.
The event is held in English in C40.601. Registration is not necessary. All members and affiliates of the university are welcome.
About the speakers:
Julia Wandt is an expert in communication, specialising in university and science communication, as well as strategy development for scientific institutions.
Kristin Küter is a social scientist and project manager at Wissenschaft im Dialog with a special interest in interpersonal and crisis communication.
With a greeting from Prof. Dr. Erich Hörl, Vice President for Research and Academic Qualification.
Scicomm-Support (Counselling for those affected by hate speech in science)
Book recommendation : Antifeminismus / Johanna Sigl, Katharina Kapitza, Karin Fischer (Hg.) Facetten des Antifeminismus: Angriffe und Eingriffe in Wissenschaft und Gesellschaft, Hamburg 2021.
Note on Accessibility
If you encounter any barriers on this website or have individual requirements relating to the Diversity Day 2025 events, please let us know in good time so that we can support you.
We will endeavour to make the Diversity Day events as accessible as possible.
Support in Case of Discrimination
On our page "Support in case of discrimination" you will find information on anti-discrimination work and counselling at Leuphana. Beyond the Equal Opportunities Office, there are various support and assistance services you can reach out to in case of discrimination.
There are many different topics and issues within the scope of diversity-orientated equality and anti-discrimination work. The following page provides an overview of topic-specific counselling services. In addition to the existing structures and contact persons at the university, you will find a selection of regional and supra-regional services categorised by topic.
The information portal on sexualised violence in the university context and beyond is aimed at victims and supporters of victims, people who want to intervene in cases of sexual harassment and anyone else who wants to find out more about the topic.
Valentina Seidel
Consultant for Equality & Diversity
Valentina Seidel@leuphana.de