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Gender equality structures

The Gender Equality Officers support the management and committees at Philipps-Universität Marburg in implementing the statutory equality mandate on the basis of the Hesse State Equal Opportunity Act (HGlG, as amended on 1 January 2016) and the General Act on Equal Treatment (AGG of 14 August 2006 (GER)) with the goal of realizing equal opportunity, improving the balance of work and family responsibility and eliminating the existing underrepresentation of women in public service. The Gender Equality Officers are also contact persons especially for all women* who study, teach research and work at the university. They advise on academic and career planning, conflicts in the workplace or place of study, questions of gender-based discrimination or cases of sexual assault. The Gender Equality Officers are not bound by employer directives or instructions – all inquiries are treated confidentially.

The duties of the gender equality office

• The Gender Equality Officers give advice and support to the management and committees of the university as a part of their statutory duty to promote women in areas where they are underrepresented.
• They work toward the elimination of structural and employment disadvantages for women* and are involved in measures to implement the HGlG and AGG. For example, they exercise an advisory and oversight function with decision-making processes such as leaves of absence, part-time employment, measures to improve the work situation, continuing training and education, protection against sexual harassment, equal treatment in the use of language, and equal representation on committees.
• They are involved in drawing up and updating plans to promote women and equality programs and oversee compliance with these. They are involved in developing equality measures as a cross-sectional task in the sense of gender mainstreaming and supporting the career advancement of women, e.g., as a part of mentoring projects or support opportunities with the balance of studies/work and family.
• They advise university management on structural and development planning and, in particular, on human resources development programs. They are involved in all human resources decisions, especially appointment and staffing processes, to ensure equal opportunity and quality assurance in the university reform process.
• They promote the integration of gender studies in research and teaching in all departments.
• They cooperate with other women’s and/or equal opportunity representatives and with (women’s) networks outside the university.
• As a part of their rights under publicity and information law, the Gender Equality Officers inform female members of the university about the representatives’ work and developments and decisions that affect women*.

Gender equality officer - areas of responsibility

In the departments and academic units, the Central Gender Equality Officers are supported by the departmental Gender Equality Officers in monitoring human resources measures. As a rule, a Gender Equality Officer from the applicable department or academic unit will be present during job appointment processes (academic and technical administrative staff). Decisions about participation on appointment committees are made on a case-by-case basis so that, on this issue, the central and departmental Gender Equality Officers will always be notified.