Since I was born, I wanted to be the change I want to have in life. I was born in Styria on a farm and moved to Vienna to study Business and Financial Management. Back in school, I used to feel strange because I questioned systems that were quite normal to others. I have always had a strong sense of justice for people and the nature, but was far too shy to say something. As I got to know more and more people in Vienna who were also "different", I dared to be loud when something wasn't fair. Now I am fighting the patriarchy and want to close gender gaps with all the resources I have.
1) What is your current goal in life and why?
My goal is to create a more equal world with my actions and to enjoy my life with my loved ones while doing so. I want to find my focus and give special attention to topics and countries that are close to my heart. I love Tanzania and I love to break „taboos" around gender gaps. I wrote my master thesis about „the new normal" and I am quite optimistic, that things will get normal and gaps will become smaller.
…"Freedom means that you don't necessarily have to do everything the way other people do."
I would not say that it works all the time. When I wrote my bachelor thesis for a very conservative gentleman in a completely different way than he would have liked, it caused me rather long nights in front of the computer afterwards to graduate. But in most cases, it was good to simply do things differently. Furthermore, I love the word „freedom" - it is such an important one on the way to create a fair world.
3) Feminism for me is…
… absolutely essential. We have experienced several crises in recent years and are right in the middle of another, the climate crisis. In my opinion, an intersectional feminist perspective is urgently needed for many actions and without this perspective we will face bigger problems in the future.
I firmly believe that at some point feminism will no longer be needed - that is, activism and actions for equality at all levels. Because at some point we will have understood that equality is the solution to many things.
4) What would I recommend my younger self?
It is not important that everyone likes you – it will not happen Moreover, enjoy your life, take chances and be kind -– it is all you and the world needs.
5) Why does the topic "menstruation" belong to the workplace?
Menstruation is political. It affects the whole society - without it, none of us would exist. It affects about 50% of us every month for several years and yet it is not taken seriously and often kept quiet when the subject comes up.
Diseases are not known, many do not know how a menstrual cycle works, even more talk down periods and pain and research on the topic is scarce. In addition, menstruation is associated with high costs.
As a company, you can make a good statement here. By having period products available in toilets and being open about the topic, a company can contribute a lot to a more equal world. It is important that menstruators and women feel seen and thus realise for themselves that they and their cycle are something very valuable. You can find more information here.
Moreover, enjoy your life, take chances and be kind -– it is all you and the world needs.
(@erdbeerwoche_)
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