Discrimination and conflicts on the basis of gender

Insults, favoritism or discrimination come in various shapes and with different ramifications: Two opposing parties, especially those directly affected, are often unsure about how to assess conflicts and potential reactions.

The Vice-rector for Internationalisation and Equal Opportunities serves as the university’s contact person for anti-discrimination and carries corresponding institutional responsibility within the Rectorate as per § 4 para. 10 Landeshochschulgesetz LHG (state law on higher education). She works to ensure “that all university members are protected from discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion or creed”.

Legal Affairs is the proper authority as per § 13 Allgemeines Gleichbehandlungsgesetz (AGG) (general law on equal treatment) to deal with complaints from employees who consider themselves discriminated against in the workplace “on the basis of their race, ethnic origin, gender, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual identity” (§ 1 AGG). Legal Affairs is obliged to assess any complaints that are made and to notify the appellant of the outcome of their evaluation.

The contact person for anti-discrimination and Legal Affairs are thus tasked with evaluating the (legal) consequences arising from cases of discrimination. Additional support is available from various advisors trained to deal with specific discrimination issues.

Please speak to one of the contact persons mentioned below first:

Deputy Equal Opportunity Representative (for academic staff) and Director of the Office for Equal Opportunity, Family Affairs and Diversity

Marion Woelki
Room: E 604
Office hours: by appointment
Phone: +49 7531 88 -2032

  • Responsibilities:
    • Advice in cases of discrimination on the basis of gender
  • Qualification:
    • Political scientist
    • Diversity advisor and coach
  • Legal framework:
    • LHG § 4
    • Anti-discrimination policy

Deputy Director of the Office for Equal Opportunity, Family Affairs and Diversity

Tanja Edelhäußer
Room: E 613
Office hours: by appointment
Phone: +49 7531 88 -5314

  • Responsibilities:
    • Advice on work-life balance for scientists and researchers
  • Qualification:
    • Psychologist
    • Speaker of the “Familie in der Hochschule” best practice club
  • Legal framework:
    • LHG § 4
    • Anti-discrimination policy

Coordinator for gender consulting in the natural sciences

Dr Sandra Weimer
Room: E 616
Office hours: by appointment
Phone: +49 7531 88 -5301

  • Responsibilities:
    • Advice and conflict avoidance measures in the academic context (clarification, referrals)
    • Supports the Equal Opportunity Representative (for academic staff) of the Faculty of Sciences and the Equal Opportunity Representative for joint research projects in the natural sciences with implementing the university’s equal opportunity targets
  • Qualification:
    • Dietician
    • Solution-oriented short-time coaching
  • Legal framework:
    • LHG § 4
    • Equal opportunity plan

Gender Mainstreaming Coordinator (for the humanities and the cluster of excellence)

Michaela David
Room: E 616
Office hours: by appointment
Phone: +49 7531 88 -5338

  • Responsibilities:
    • Advice with problems and conflict avoidance measures in the academic context (clarification, referrals)
    • Supports the Equal Opportunity Representative (for academic staff) of the Faculty of Humanities and the Equal Opportunity Representative of the cluster of excellence with implementing the university’s equal opportunity targets
  • Qualification:
    • Social education worker
    • Systemic advice (basic education)
  • Legal framework:
    • LHG § 4
    • Equal opportunity plan