Lecture on the topic of "Political participation and compatibility"

Under the title "(K)ein Platz für Eltern in der Kommunalpolitik? Practice, strategies and approaches for real compatibility", the Borken Office for Equal Opportunities invites you to a lecture and subsequent discussion at Borken Town Hall on 8 October as part of the Democracy Workshop. The event is a cooperation with the equal opportunities offices of the Borken district administration and the city of Bocholt.

Local politics thrives on the commitment of many - but it often poses a particular challenge for people with families, jobs and caring responsibilities. How can real compatibility be achieved so that political participation does not become an excessive burden?

Carina Sienert (City of Borken), Jutta Grave-Möllmann (District of Borken) and Astrid Schupp (City of Bocholt) ask themselves these and other questions. "Many parents - both mothers and fathers - are giving up their political volunteering in order not to neglect their families in their already stressful everyday lives," notes the Borken Equal Opportunities Officer. To mark the occasion, an expert from Berlin was invited.

Cécile Weidhofer, Director at EAF Berlin and co-editor of the book "Zu anders für die Macht?" (Too different for power?"), will address the question of how family, career and voluntary work in local politics can be better reconciled. She will present practical examples and invite discussion on structural changes and the strategies and scope that women with care responsibilities can use to get involved in politics.

Following the presentation and discussion, participants will have the opportunity to talk to each other, network and round off the evening with a light snack.

Participation in the event is free of charge. For better planning, please register at www.borken.de/gleichstellung. If you have any questions, please contact the Equal Opportunities Officer Carina Sienert by telephone on 02861/939-297 or by email at gleichstellung(at)borken(dot)de.

Background: What is care work?

Care work refers to all activities related to caring, nurturing and parenting - whether unpaid in the private sphere or paid in social and care professions. This work is indispensable for the functioning of our society, but is often made invisible and is particularly associated with an unequal distribution between the sexes.