Gender Studies is an interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research field with an international focus, examining "gender" as a critical category for the analysis of science, culture, and society. It explores the conditions and meanings of gender and gender relations across various historical, social, and political contexts. Topics include the division of labor and the gender pay gap, issues of acknowledgment and discrimination, diverse ways of life and lifestyles, as well as representations of gender in different media and their influence on everyday life. Central questions address the social and cultural shaping of gender relations and the development and transformation of the understanding of "gender" and "gender differences."
Current research focuses on the interplay between gender differences and other lines of difference, such as social background, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. It incorporates perspectives from masculinity studies, postcolonial studies, disability studies, critical whiteness studies, and queer studies. A key insight of Gender Studies is that hierarchies and inequalities in gender relations are shaped by social structures and human action—and are therefore subject to change. This understanding opens up a wide range of academic challenges and practical applications.
In the 1970s, Frankfurt am Main was one of the strongholds of the new women’s movement. Emerging from this background and in connection with the spirit of Critical Theory, Frankfurt Gender Studies was born. Its roots run deep in the city’s social fabric. Whether through foundations like Maecenia, organizations such as the Kinothek Asta Nielsen, advisory services, or intercultural work and migration policy, Frankfurt boasts a vibrant, active culture of engagement in social, cultural, and political fields. The Cornelia Goethe Center for Women’s Studies and the Study of Gender Relations—named after the sister of the world-famous Frankfurt poet—is part of this culture and maintains cooperative relationships with numerous initiatives and institutions throughout the Rhine-Main region. Frankfurt is an ideal starting point for building international connections and launching a professional career.