Is it a girl or a boy?" This is one of the first questions asked when a child is born. But what is the significance of categorising people into two genders? What does this mean for how individuals perceive themselves and others, for their identity and living conditions? In what way do gender constructions characterise the social and cultural orders of societies? What role do other patterns of order such as age, ethnicity, sexuality or social position play? Which mechanisms of domination and power become effective?
Gender Studies investigates these questions. The Oldenburg degree programme focuses on cultural studies. Accordingly, basic knowledge of gender studies is taught in conjunction with cultural theories. Methods and working techniques from various disciplines are integrated. Mechanisms of privilege and marginalisation are examined on the basis of gender concepts in different cultural, national and global contexts. Equal opportunities and anti-discrimination policies are analysed as well as the structures, goals and meanings of social movements. International perspectives and close cooperation with (non)European academics and experts form an integral part of the degree programme.
The development of analytical and intercultural skills enables students to work on interdisciplinary problems relating to gender perspectives in cultural fields of practice. Practical fields are introduced during the degree programme and students are given the opportunity to put the skills they have acquired to the test in an internship.
The Gender Studies degree programme in Oldenburg is characterised by work in small groups with individual supervision. Central perspectives are:

• the inter- and transdisciplinary view of the politics of representations;
• processes of transculturality and cultural transfer (migration of people and things);
• Queer theory to understand social processes of normalisation in the field of sexuality;
• gender-specific educational processes;
• the linking of theory and practical fields for the development of gender competence.

Gender Studies is coordinated by the Gender Studies working group of School III and the Centre for Interdisciplinary Women's and Gender Studies (ZFG), the central point of contact for gender studies at the University of Oldenburg for teaching staff, researchers and students.

Flyer brief information on Gender Studies