Comparison of gender-specific education in Europe and joint suggestions to reduce Austria’s high femicide rates

Summary

Femicides remain a serious issue in Austria, and the project’s goal was to raise awareness of this problem among students. Through a multiplier effect, the message also reached families and friends. Collaboration with a partner school in Spain enabled participants to explore both differences and commonalities between the two countries and to seek potential solutions. Key awareness-raising tools included impactful activities such as a silent march with posters through Malaga, a "Break the Chain" flashmob in Baden, and school exhibitions, such as the Red Shoes installation.  

"The highlight was our trip to Malaga with an intensive sightseeing program, workshops at a Spanish school and our memorable silent march through Malaga. Friendship and work on the topic continued even after the official end of the project."

Topic(s) addressed

• Promoting gender equality as a common value
• Strengthening the awareness of young people about violence against women
• Increasing awareness about the European Union 

Target group(s)

• Young people from 14-20
• Families and friends of our students (multiplier effect) 

Methodologies used 

The project implemented a range of methodologies designed to engage students and promote interdisciplinary learning. These included written reflections and summaries, an exploration of the legal situation regarding femicide in Austria, Spain, and the EU, and rehearsing the dance 'Break the Chain' with all students as a form of expressive activism. Digital platforms such as Padlet, Quizlet, and Kahoot were integrated to enhance interactivity, while stories like 'Pepe and Pepa' sparked meaningful discussions. Students explored key terms independently, for example, 'misogyny', and engaged with invited experts through lectures and discussions, including representatives from the Association for Men's Work, Undine Association, early childhood educators, and a relative of a femicide victim. The project also featured an online workshop with WAVE and encouraged students to develop and deliver their own presentations and workshops to other classes. They created educational tools such as a memory game and a Kahoot quiz for use in peer learning. Additionally, students designed exhibitions for International Women’s Day (featuring the Red Shoes installation) and Open House events, organised a flash mob in downtown Baden, and created a dedicated project website. 

Innovation environment

Since the COVID lockdowns, both schools and students have become well equipped with digital technology, enabling the exploration of a wide range of online tools. Most of the project work took place outside of regular lessons, giving students the freedom to try out new methods and experiment with innovative learning techniques in a low-pressure environment. As one of the project’s aims was to raise awareness of the topic among fellow students, participants were encouraged to find creative and engaging ways to communicate their message and promote long-term learning. The teaching and learning materials developed by the students are designed to be easily accessible to all, with a particular focus on supporting the transfer of knowledge from older to younger students.

Teachers’ role

Teachers from a wide range of subjects were involved in the project: Physical Education teachers led the rehearsal and explanation of the dance, English and Spanish teachers supported work with subject-specific vocabulary, German teachers guided the writing of newspaper articles, summaries and comments, while Law teachers analysed the legal frameworks in the participating countries and the EU. This extensive collaboration was a new experience for everyone involved and for the school as a whole. The age diversity among teachers in both Austria and Spain also influenced the didactic approaches used. Successfully completing the various tasks required intensive joint preparation. Since English was the working language, using a foreign language became second nature for both teachers and students. 

Impact and output

The project topic was chosen together with the participating students, many of whom -particularly the female students - expressed an interest in learning more about it. Following the project, several students decided to write their diploma theses on this topic because they wanted to explore specific aspects in more detail. Through the exhibitions held in the school hall, which all students visited as part of their lessons, the topic became well known within school. The joint actions, such as the silent march and flash mob, were directed at the broader public in both Malaga and Baden, attracting the attention of local media. Since then, International Women's Day in March and the ‘16 Days Against Violence’ campaign in November have been regularly marked at the school, with activities organised by various teachers and classes. 

Learn more about the project