Attitude, mission, and culture
Core values
- Human rights are not negotiable: all people and all genders are equal. We understand Article 7 of the Austrian Constitution in this sense.
- We are not only experts, but also affected parties. Gender-neutral action is not possible; gender is a social practice.
- There are costs, privileges, and differences within gender groups for/among all genders.
- Power relations and social interests are embedded in the category of gender. Gender issues cannot therefore be separated from issues of power and structure.
- Gender equality is not possible without changing gender relations and therefore requires dialogue.
- Social and economic justice and gender equality are mutually dependent and are unquestionable as a perspective for joint political engagement.
- Gender-political action makes an irreplaceable contribution to the establishment of gender equality.
Mission and stance
As an umbrella organization, we bring together committed individuals, interested parties, and experts, as well as organizations working in the field of boys', men's, and fathers' work, for example in education, counseling, encounter, research, politics, culture, religion, and spirituality. We are a non-profit, non-partisan, and non-denominational organization.
As individuals and organizations that contribute to gender equality, we consider gender-specific privileges, costs, and inequalities equally. We believe it is both possible and necessary to make structural male privileges in a patriarchal society visible and to reflect critically on them, while at the same time highlighting and addressing disadvantages faced by men.
We are therefore committed to a threefold advocacy:
- We are a voice for the vulnerabilities, concerns, and potential of boys, men, and fathers—including those who have not yet found a voice.
- We are supporters and partners for women and their rights, concerns, and organizations.
- We are committed to an alliance for gender diversity and social justice.
Organizations and individuals involved in the umbrella organization can set different priorities, but must recognize the legitimacy of all three elements and keep them in mind, i.e., figuratively speaking, position themselves within the triangle.
