Belinda Hofmann-Schmalekow, Markus Marquard
Who are the most famous women in the Danube region? How many women do you know, who have shaped your town or your region? Surely you know some amazing women, dedicated to making this world a better or more beautiful place. We want to point out fascinating women in history and from today.
Where are all the Women?
Why is it that such a small number of streets is named after women? Why are there so many more statues and historical monuments in honour of men, even though there are so many women pioneering all kinds of differ ent disciplines who are known just as well?
And what is with the women of today? Women are certainly underrepresented in the depiction of history and in today’s news. Following their footsteps, you will encounter significant locations and favourite haunts of trailblazing women from all walks of life.
Women along the danube
Since March 2017 the european project „Danube Women City Guide” promote the aim of raising the awareness of women and their lives along the Danube. In addition, the cross-national exchange on current and historical women’s issues in the Danube region is to be strengthened. The project contributes to the realization of the European Danube region strategy, it was implemented in five cities: Vienna, Budapest, Novi Sad, Temeswar and Ulm.
Attract attention to young people
In particular, it aims to connect young women from the Danube region by bringing together the knowledge of the historical and contemporary significance of women in different cities along the Danube. Different initiatives and activities take place in each city. In the project there were organised different city walks, but also intergenerational learning projects and seminars at schools and education centers. In addition to the city walks in Ulm a scavenger hunt was developed for mobile device which attrat attention especially for young people, who can explore more abount not only famous women who can be role models for girls in the future.
Danube festival 2018
The results of this project are a exhibition and a book about DANUBE WOMEN STORIES which were presented in the framework of the International Danube Festival 2018 in Ulm. The exhibition took place in the Museum of Ulm and was opend by the State Secretary of Baden-Württemberg Theresa Schopper and Deputy Mayor of Ulm Iris Mann. During the danube networker conference “Intangible cultural heritage in the Danube Region” a lecture and a workshop pick up also the role of women and Gender Debates along the Danube.
Footsteps of important women
The main result oft he project is a book were the reader can encounter five women respectively of historical and contemporary significance from five different cities. How would these women from the past network in today’s age of globalisation, how would they communicate with us? When we follow the traces of these women one fact becomes apparent: there is a lot we can learn from them.
More information and next steps
This project will continue with a touring exhibition and a new edition about historical and contemporary women also from Linz, Regensburg and Bratislava.
This project is coordinated by ZAWiW, ulm university, together with danube connects (Ulm), The World of NGOs (Vienna), Budapest Walkshop / Sétamühely, Novi Sad School of Journalism as well as Asociatia Pro Democratia (Temeswar) supported by the Baden-Württemberg Foundation.
More about this activities under https://women.danube-stories.eu/
