Feminism from a male perspective

International Women’s Day will be celebrated on 8 March. To mark the day, we present some inspiring individuals and projects from Germany and reveal how they are committed to strengthening women’s rights around the world.

What makes you feminists?
Herr: Men who are feminists recognise that women worldwide still do not have the same opportunities, possibilities and securities that men do, and that men can and must also be part of the solution. As a man, one should play a supporting role, no more and no less, because feminism is a movement initiated and led by women.

Is that why you are involved in UN Women’s global #HeforShe campaign?
Speer: We can only achieve a gender-equal society if we work together. If we are to make any progress, it is men above all who need to acknowledge the injustices and critically reflect on their own concepts of gender roles and their own behaviours. This still happens far too rarely. This is where the HeForShe campaign comes in. Men sensitise and mobilise other men and highlight possible solutions. As HeForShe ambassadors for UN Women Germany, we make a contribution and support individuals, business enterprises and public institutions on their path towards more gender equality.

Why is exchange on a European level also so vital when it comes to the issue of feminism?
Speer: The united Europe, and indeed the world, would be a better, more peaceful, healthier and more economically successful place if it were more feminist. In our book Europe For Future, we use 95 theses to illustrate how the EU could further evolve. Many problems we are experiencing nowadays are inextricably linked to the question of gender equality. We can learn a lot from one another in this respect in Europe. The Swedish parental leave model for example shows successfully how more men can take responsibility for their children, the food for thought offered by Kristina Lunz reveals how feminist foreign policy can lead us to a more peaceful future, and a parity law such as those in place in France or Spain would help break through the glass ceiling in politics and get more women into parliaments.

Join in!

Would you like to network digitally with other committed people, discuss ideas and inspire one another? You now have the chance to do just that.  Take part in our prize competition and you could win:
 

• participation for one person in an exclusive Herr & Speer digital workshop on the subjects of feminism, diversity and HeForShe
• participation for one person in a high-quality virtual event to build personal links with female business founders from Germany and the world

What do you need to do? You have until 27 March to comment on one of our #FemaleFuture posts on our social media channels and tell us why the subject of equality is close to your heart.

More information about the campaign can be found on our Instagram channel.

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