Head: Prof. Dr Heike Fleßner

This thematic focus, which was dealt with in particular in several research projects integrated into teaching, focused on the processes of interpretation, attribution and self-positioning of young people in open youth work settings (especially youth centres), with particular consideration of the complex interdependence of the social categories of ethnicity and gender and the importance of educators - their interactions with young people and each other and their pedagogical concepts - in this context. The aim of the thematic focus was to link together previously largely separate empirical research strands and conceptual work in the field of open youth work, i.e. to relate gender-related and intercultural analyses and pedagogical concepts to one another. The research methods used were participant observation, individual and group interviews.

Central publications:

Pech, Detlef/Herschelmann, Michael/Fleßner, Heike (eds.) (2005): Boys' Work. Dialogue between practice and science, Oldenburg

Fleßner, Heike (2005): Gender and interculturality - reflections on the further development of gender-conscious intercultural pedagogy. In: Leiprecht, Ru-dolf/Kerber, Anne (eds.): Schule in der Einwanderungsgesellschaft. A handbook, Schwalbach, 162 - 179

Fleßner, Heike (2002): Girls' educators and their images of girls - between desires and contradictions. In: ZFG/ZFS (ed.): Körper und Geschlecht - Bremen-Olden-burger Vorlesungen zur Frauen- und Geschlechterforschung, Opladen, 105 - 116