The Competence Center "Gender Studies in Transformation" sees itself as a discourse space and research context in which scientists from various disciplines work together. Its task is to bundle, strengthen networking, continue and, in particular, expand existing research initiatives in the field of interdisciplinary, intersectional and international gender, diversity and queer research. On the basis of diverse disciplinary as well as multi- and interdisciplinary methodological and theoretical approaches, gender is not only examined from multiple perspectives, on different levels and from a contemporary analytical and historical perspective; at the same time, the Center contributes to the further development of research and the continuous reflection and revision of its own theoretical approaches and epistemological self-conceptions.
The Centre's activities are bundled into three research clusters: "Socio-ecological transformation and gender relations", "Precarious lives and relations of violence" and "Representation and reproduction of gender". The spectrum ranges from the analysis of social, economic, spatial and political inequalities to research into the entanglement of structural power relations - such as racism, sexism, ableism and nationalism - and the investigation of knowledge systems, the representation of gender and its role in processes of production and reproduction.
In addition, the center integrates an interdisciplinary study program and provides targeted support for graduate students in its structures in order to strengthen academic qualification and support in the field of gender, diversity and queer research.
