EQUALPEDIA
Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors

Gender- und Frauenforschungszentrum der Hessischen Hochschulen (gFFZ)

Inhaltsverzeichnis

The Gender- und Frauenforschungszentrum der Hessischen Hochschulen (gFFZ) (Gender and Women’s Research Centre of the Hessian Universities) is a cross-institutional research and networking centre for gender and women’s studies at universities of applied sciences (Hochschulen für angewandte Wissenschaften, HAW) in the federal state of Hesse. It was founded in 2001 and is based at the Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences.1HAW Hessen (2026): Gender- und Frauenforschungszentrum der Hessischen Hochschulen – gFFZ. In: Website of HAW Hessen. Available online at: https://haw-hessen.de/aktivitaeten/gffz (accessed on 9 March 2026).

The centre serves as a platform for networking researchers, promoting gender research and integrating gender perspectives into research and teaching at Hessian universities. It aims to promote research on gender relations, to network academics and to integrate gender perspectives into research, teaching and practice. The gFFZ sees itself as a centre of expertise and services for gender research within the Hessian universities.2Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences (2026): Gender- und Frauenforschungszentrum der hessischen Hochschulen (gFFZ). In: Website of the Frankfurt UAS. Available online at: https://www.frankfurt-university.de/de/hochschule/fachbereich-4-soziale-arbeit-gesundheit/forschung-am-fb-4/forschungsinstitute/gender-und-frauenforschungszentrum-der-hessischen-hochschulen-gffz/ (accessed on 9 March 2026).

History and organisation

The gFFZ was founded in 2001 on the initiative of female academics at what was then the Fachhochschule Frankfurt, in the context of the Landeskonferenz der Frauen- und Gleichstellungsbeauftragten an hessischen Hochschulen (State Conference of Women’s and Equal Opportunities Officers at Hessian Universities). Its co-founders included the legal scholars Sybilla Flügge and Dagmar Oberlies.3Wollenhaupt, Annette (2002): „Schlachtrösser der Emanzipation“ als Zugpferde der Wissenschaft. Das Frauenforschungszentrum der hessischen Fachhochschulen versteht sich als Netzwerk und Öffentlichkeitsforum. In: Frankfurter Rundschau, article of 19 June, p. 29. 4red (2019): Für die Rechte der Frauen. Auszeichnung Prof. Sibylla Flügge erhält Tony-Sender-Preis. In: Frankfurter Neue Presse, article of 19 July, p. 12. 5n.a. (2017): Sibylla Flügge ist die 12. Preisträgerin des Tony Sender Preises der Stadt Frankfurt am Main. In: STREIT, 3/2017, p. 144. Available online at: https://www.streit-fem.de/archiv/sibylla-fluegge-ist-die-12-preistraegerin-des-tony-sender-preises-der-stadt-frankfurt-am-main (accessed on 9 March 2026). This development was connected with a nationwide academisation and institutionalisation of gender studies, which increasingly found their way into the German higher education landscape from the 1990s onwards. While gender research was established primarily at universities, the gFFZ set out to anchor these perspectives specifically in the field of application-oriented research.6Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences (2026): Gender- und Frauenforschungszentrum der hessischen Hochschulen (gFFZ). In: Website of the Frankfurt UAS. Available online at: https://www.frankfurt-university.de/de/hochschule/fachbereich-4-soziale-arbeit-gesundheit/forschung-am-fb-4/forschungsinstitute/gender-und-frauenforschungszentrum-der-hessischen-hochschulen-gffz/ (accessed on 9 March 2026).

Today the centre operates as a network that pools the expertise of various Hessian HAW. The supporting institutions include:7Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences (2026): Gender- und Frauenforschungszentrum der hessischen Hochschulen (gFFZ). In: Website of the Frankfurt UAS. Available online at: https://www.frankfurt-university.de/de/hochschule/fachbereich-4-soziale-arbeit-gesundheit/forschung-am-fb-4/forschungsinstitute/gender-und-frauenforschungszentrum-der-hessischen-hochschulen-gffz/ (accessed on 9 March 2026).

  • Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences
  • Hochschule Darmstadt
  • Hochschule Fulda
  • Hochschule RheinMain
  • Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen
  • Evangelische Hochschule Darmstadt

In organisational terms, the gFFZ is also embedded in the Hessian research landscape and cooperates with university institutions such as the Cornelia-Goethe-Centrum (Goethe-Universität Frankfurt) as well as other study programmes at the universities of Kassel and Marburg. Funding is provided by the participating universities, state funds and project-related third-party funding.8n.a. (2026): Gender Studies gegen gesellschaftliche Ungleichheit und Diskriminierung. In: Website of the Hessisches Ministerium für Wissenschaft und Forschung, Kunst und Kultur. Available online at: https://wissenschaft.hessen.de/presse/pressearchiv/gender-studies-gegen-gesellschaftliche-ungleichheit-und-diskriminierung (accessed on 9 March 2026).

Research focus and funding

A key core concern of the gFFZ is supporting researchers in designing and implementing gender-sensitive projects. Its range of services includes advice on applications for third-party funding, networking academics and organising interdisciplinary specialist events.9Breyer, Ralf/Seidel-Sperfeld, Kristiane/Semmet, Tobias Paul (2012): Fokus Forschung 2012. Ed. by Präsident der Fachhochschule Frankfurt am Main – University of Applied Sciences. Frankfurt/M. Available online at: https://www.frankfurt-university.de/fileadmin/standard/Forschung/abt_fit_pdf_files/fokus_forschung/Forschungsbericht_2012 (accessed on 9 March 2026).

Research at the gFFZ is interdisciplinary and covers a wide range of subject areas. Its thematic priorities include gender relations in the education system, gender perspectives in social work, gender and health, care work and family structures, and research on discrimination and inequality. In addition, there is a focus on gender relations in the social and health professions, equality policy and gender mainstreaming, and the analysis of gender perspectives in education and social policy.10Hochschule Fulda – University of Applied Sciences (2020): Frauenförder- und Gleichstellungsplan der Hochschule Fulda 2020-2025. Available online at: https://www.hs-fulda.de/fileadmin/user_upload/CUV/Strategische_Ausrichtung/Frauenfoerder-und_Gleichstellungsplan_2020-2025.pdf (accessed on 9 March 2026). 11Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences (2026): Gender- und Frauenforschungszentrum der hessischen Hochschulen (gFFZ). In: Website of the Frankfurt UAS. Available online at: https://www.frankfurt-university.de/de/hochschule/fachbereich-4-soziale-arbeit-gesundheit/forschung-am-fb-4/forschungsinstitute/gender-und-frauenforschungszentrum-der-hessischen-hochschulen-gffz/ (accessed on 9 March 2026).

Through cooperation with social institutions and civil society actors, the aim is to transfer academic findings directly into fields of social practice.

Support for early-career researchers: Henriette-Fürth-Preis

To increase the visibility of outstanding achievements by young researchers, the centre has awarded the Henriette-Fürth-Preis (Henriette Fürth Prize), endowed with 500 euros, every year since 2004. The award is named after the sociologist and women’s rights activist Henriette Fürth (1861–1938) and honours outstanding theses in the field of women’s and gender studies written at the participating Hessian universities.12red (2011): Gemeinsam für Frauen forschen. In: Frankfurter Neue Presse, article of 16 May, p. 4. 13n.a. (2025): Henriette-Fürth-Preis 2025 geht an h_da-Studentin Denise Gawrilowicz. In: Website of the Hochschule Darmstadt. Available online at: https://h-da.de/slider-meldung-single/henriette-fuerth-preis-2025-geht-an-h-da-studentin-denise-gawrilowicz (accessed on 9 March 2026). 14n.a. (2026): Stefanie Freytag und Verena Dierolf erhalten Henriette-Fürth-Preis. In: Osthessen-Zeitung, article of 2 August. Available online at: https://www.osthessen-zeitung.de/einzelansicht/news/2018/august/stefanie-freytag-und-verena-dierolf-erhalten-henriette-fuerth-preis.html (accessed on 9 March 2026). 15pakü (2009): „Gewalt gegen Frauen“ – Henriette-Fürth-Preis zum 1. Mal an Hochschule Fulda. In: Osthessen News, article of 23 April. Available online at: https://osthessen-news.de/n1165103/fulda-b-gewalt-gegen-frauen-henriette-f%C3%BCrth-preis-zum-1-mal-an-hochschule-fulda-b.html (accessed on 9 March 2026).

Knowledge transfer

The centre relies on a variety of formats to make gender research accessible to a wider professional audience: it regularly organises academic events such as conferences, workshops, lecture series and public talks. These events include the conference series „Gender im Fokus“ (Gender in Focus), at which research findings from the participating universities are presented.16red (2021): Vorlesung: Gender und Digitalisierung. In: Frankfurter Neue Presse, article of 8 May, p. 14. 17Mannig, Friederike (2026): Gender und Nachhaltigkeit. gFFZ – Gender- und Frauenforschungszentrum der hessischen Hochschulen an der Frankfurt UAS startet neue digitale Ringvorlesungsreihe im Wintersemester 2022/2023. In: Website of the Frankfurt UAS, article of 19 October. Available online at: https://idw-online.de/ (accessed on 9 March 2026). 18n.a. (2023): Gender und Nachhaltigkeit in der Wissenschaft. In: Website of the Frankfurt UAS, press release of 4 April. Available online at: https://www.frankfurt-university.de/de/news/n-pressemitteilungen/gender-und-nachhaltigkeit-in-der-wissenschaft/ (accessed on 9 March 2026). 19Fachgesellschaft Geschlechterstudien (2022): [Online-Ringvorlesungsreihe] „Gender und Nachhaltigkeit” am Gender und Frauenforschungszentrum der hessischen Hochschulen (gFFZ) (Nov. 22 bis Jan. 23). In: Website of the Fachgesellschaft Geschlechterstudien, announcement of 24 October. Available online at: https://www.fg-gender.de/online-ringvorlesungsreihe-gender-und-nachhaltigkeit-am-gender-und-frauenforschungszentrum-der-hessischen-hochschulen-gffz-nov-22-bis-jan-23/ (accessed on 9 March 2026). Current research reports and online publications on gender research topics are published on the website. In addition, since 2025 the gFFZ has run a podcast entitled „nachg*fragt – der gFFZ-Podcast“, in which gFFZ staff member Hanna Haag and Sabrina Schmitt, professor of social work at the IU Internationale Hochschule, discuss gender research topics with various experts.20gFFZ (2026): gFFZ-Podcast nachg*fragt – Perspektiven der Geschlechterforschung. In: Website of the gFFZ. Available online at: https://www.gffz.de/mediathek/nachgfragt-der-gffz-podcast (accessed on 9 March 2026).

Media perception and place in science policy

In terms of media perception, the centre is present primarily through specialist publications and regional reporting – for example in connection with the prize awards. Nevertheless, it occupies an essential niche in Hesse’s science policy debate by profiling and consolidating gender research specifically in the application-oriented HAW sector.

In recent years the gFFZ has received increasing attention in science policy and media debates. Whereas reporting used to be mainly regional or specialist in focus, the centre is now at the centre of fundamental disputes about the freedom of research and teaching in Hesse.21gFFZ (2026): Aktuelle Mitteilungen: Angriffe auf Geschlechterforschung und geschlechterinklusive Sprache in Hessen. In: Website of the gFFZ. Available online at: https://www.gffz.de/aktuelles/aktuelle-mitteilungen (accessed on 9 March 2026).

The gFFZ has received particular attention in connection with the so-called „Gender-Verbot“ (gender ban) introduced by the Hessian state government (CDU/SPD) in 2024. This prohibits the use of gender-sensitive special characters such as the gender star in public administration and in schools. The gFFZ and the network of Hessian gender research regard this measure as an encroachment on academic freedom and as a symbolic restriction of visible diversity. They argue that such bans cement existing power structures and make the equal participation of women, trans and non-binary people more difficult.22Voigts, Hanning (2023): Gender-Verbot in Hessen: „Es geht um Machtverhältnisse“. In: Frankfurter Rundschau, article of 25 November. Available online at: https://www.fr.de/rhein-main/landespolitik/gender-verbot-in-hessen-es-geht-um-machtverhaeltnisse-92693854.html (accessed on 9 March 2026).

A further focus of reporting is the discontinuation of the long-standing funding line „Dimensionen der Kategorie Geschlecht“ (Dimensions of the Category of Gender) by the Hessisches Wissenschaftsministerium (HMWK) (Hessian Ministry of Science) at the end of 2025. Critical voices from academia warn that transferring these funds into the universities’ general base budgets could jeopardise the structural anchoring of gender research. In the public debate, this is perceived as an attack on gender research. Observers comment that a discursive bridge between conservative austerity measures and anti-feminist currents is becoming apparent here. In this environment, the gFFZ positions itself not only as a research institution but also as a cautionary voice for the preservation of democratic and academic standards. It emphasises that gender perspectives, especially in times of social polarisation, must remain an integral part of future-oriented scholarship.23gFFZ (2026): Aktuelle Mitteilungen: Angriffe auf Geschlechterforschung und geschlechterinklusive Sprache in Hessen. In: Website of the gFFZ. Available online at: https://www.gffz.de/aktuelles/aktuelle-mitteilungen (accessed on 9 March 2026). 24Beck, Dorothee/Haag, Hanna (2026): Angriffe auf Geschlechterforschung und geschlechterinklusive Sprache in Hessen. In: blog interdisziplinäre geschlechterforschung, post of 10 February. Available online at: https://www.gender-blog.de/beitrag/angriffe-auf-geschlechterforschung (accessed on 9 March 2026).

External links

Machine translation: This article was translated automatically from the German original.

Empfohlene Zitierweise
  • Maraike Vandergrift
  • : Gender- und Frauenforschungszentrum der Hessischen Hochschulen (gFFZ). In: Equalpedia. 
  • Online unter: 
https://www.equalpedia.org/en/gender-und-frauenforschungszentrum-der-hessischen-hochschulen-gffz-2/
  • (Zugriff am 26. September 2026).