Alarming gender segregation: Women's Union warns of new danger!

Alarming gender segregation: Women's Union warns of new danger!

In Essen, a proposal for a gender-separate celebration of the Abitur class is causing heated discussions. Sarah Kramer, the chairwoman of the Women's Union in the Ennepe-Ruhr district, expresses clear concerns. She sees the plan to hold the graduation ceremony separately for boys and girls as a dangerous development that does not reconcile religiously motivated gender segregation with the Basic Law and the principle of equality enshrined therein. “It is alarming that such ideas are gaining traction among students,” said Kramer. According to her, the project reflects a deeper ideological motivation that is increasingly finding its way into schools.

Kramer refers to a WAZ report that discusses the support of the high school graduate class by legal experts. This is viewed critically by many teachers who have decided not to take part in the celebration. At a time when more and more students are boycotting events such as swimming and sports lessons due to religious beliefs, she fears that extreme views are gradually being integrated into the school system.

Religious roots and gender segregation

The debate about gender segregation in schools and society has deeper cultural and historical roots. If you look at the major religions, they emerged 2,500 to 1,500 years ago in patriarchal societies in which different roles were defined for men and women. These traditions can also be found today, and many religious practices reflect the social circumstances of the time. The distinction between men and women is often viewed as God-given in many religious communities and still regulates social life today, as an article by Deutschlandfunk Kultur shows.

In Christianity, Judaism and Islam, regulations regarding women's clothing and the separation of genders in worship are widespread. In many churches, especially in more rural areas, curtains separate seating for men and women, while some Islamic communities also have separate rooms for different genders. Such practices have the potential to undermine gender equality, including critical consideration of the role of women in religious communities. According to a study by the Federal Agency for Civic Education, patriarchal structures often ensure that women are underrepresented in religious matters.

A call for holism

Kramer warns of the dangers that can arise from growing religious fundamentalism in schools. It is particularly worrying that more and more students only wear their headscarves to school for fear of social pressure from religious groups. She describes this as a form of intimidation. She believes that the idea that schools alone are responsible for preventing religiously or politically motivated extremes is untenable. Rather, the entire society must pull together to promote an inclusive and respectful learning environment.

Already in the 1950s, Friedrich Heiler called the major religions “men’s religions,” which imposed oppression and contempt on women in various ways. The claim that men are leaders in religious organizations remains a reality. In the last two decades, awareness of the androcentric character of religions has increased, but the road to gender equality often remains rocky. Feminist theologies and reform movements are impulses that attempt to change these conditions and enable women to participate more.

The debate about the gender-separate high school graduation ceremony in Essen is therefore not just a local dispute, but also brings together deeper social questions about equality, integration and the role of religions in modern life. It remains to be hoped that the voices of those who advocate for a gender-equitable and inclusive society can be heard and bring about change across the board.