Culture as a Field of Conflict: Challenges of a Feminist-Intersectional Practice in the Context of FGM-C and ‘Forced Marriage’

March 28, 2025, 9:30 AM – 6:30 PM

The discussion of Female Genital Mutilation-Cutting (FGM-C) and forced marriage in migration societies always carries the risk of being instrumentalized for racist and anti-migration purposes. In public discourse, FGM-C and forced marriage are often attributed solely to cultural differences and used as supposed evidence of the “backwardness” of the “migrant Other”. For feminist organizations and associations working in the context of FGM-C and forced marriage, these issues are central to combating violence against migrant and refugee girls* and women*. However, when these organizations aim to address both gender-based violence and racism, they face particular challenges and dilemmas. These challenges form the starting point of this expert conference, which seeks to bring together academic insights and practical expertise in this field. The goal is to foster dialogue and collaboratively develop strategies and solutions.

With: Isabelle Ihring (Evangelische Hochschule Freiburg), Fadumo Korn & Mathilda Legitimus-Schleicher (Nala e.V., Frankfurt a.M./Munich), Najwa Duzdar & Mona Aglan (Orient Express e.V., Vienna), Idil Gogus (DaMigra e.V., Halle/Saale), Rahma Abdi, Grace Karisa & Tanja Sachs (IMMA e.V., Munich)

Location: Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich // Institute for Empirical Cultural Studies and European Ethnology // Oettingenstraße 67

Participation is free of charge.

Registration at: ananya.mehra@ekwee.uni-muenchen.de

The conference is part of the DFG-funded research project “Ambivalent Gender Knowledge: Negotiations of Cultural Difference in Feminist Initiatives of the Post-Migrant Society,” based at LMU Munich. https://www.ekwee.uni-muenchen.de/personen/mitarbeiter/gutekunst/aktuelle-forschung/index.html