Why we should also talk about men on Women’s Day …

International Women’s Day traditionally commemorates the achievements of female emancipation, raises old and new demands for equality, and stages protests against violence against women and discrimination of every kind. But following #MeToo and the ongoing debates on political correctness, Women’s Day is also a good opportunity to talk about men: because the “weakened sex” and its mechanisms for coping with its crises are a problem for women.

This is reflected above all in the increase in male violence towards women. The long-held ideal of manliness, which presupposes strength and toughness, has long ceased to be accurate. Women suffer from it, while many men increasingly feel that something is wrong and begin to question themselves. This causes insecurity, self-doubt – and very often even more pressure. Across the globe women are standing up in public against the manifestations of “toxic masculinity” – does that help men too? We will discuss the stereotype of strong men and how it is changing with top-class speakers in Vienna’s Burgtheater on 8 March, International Women’s Day.

Kenan Güngör – sociologist and politicy advisor, think difference
Kathrin Röggla – author
Maria Windhager – lawyer, specializing in media law
Paul Michael Zulehner – theologian and sociologist of religion

Moderation: Petra Stuiber, editor of Der Standard

In German

Entrance fee: EUR 7,-

Length: 90 minutes, no break

Tickets and more information: www.burgtheater.at

Debating Europe

This series of public morning debates brings leading politicians, scientists and intellectuals on to the stage of Vienna’s Burgtheater to discuss topical issues of political and social relevance. This long-standing event is a collaborative production of the Institute for Human Sciences (IWM), Burgtheater, ERSTE Foundation and Austrian daily Der Standard.