Equal Opportunities for Older Women
About the initiative Content and framework conditions Organisational background Back
Bildungsurlaub: "1-2-3 im Sauseschritt läuft die Zeit, wir laufen mit..." der Landesarbeitsgemeinschaft ARBEIT UND LEBEN Hessen (Educational leave for older women organised by the working group ARBEIT UND LEBEN in the State of Hessen)
Communicational details
Address:
Königsteiner Str. 29
61440 Oberursel
Germany
Contact persons and their known foreign languages:
Elke Wilhelm, Education official from the state working group
Barbara Menke, Education official from the national working group
Telephone: 0049-6171-57622
Telefax: 0049-6171-580257
E-Mail: AuL@t-online.de
Internet: www.arbeitundleben.de/hessen
About the initiative
Status of the initiative: The initiative is an initiative aimed at improving equal opportunities for older women through an organisation that pursues objectives which are independent of gender or age.
The initiative has the dicisive support of the following organisation:
Landesarbeitsgemeinschaft ARBEIT UND LEBEN Hessen
Address:
Königsteiner Str. 29
61440 Oberursel
Germany
Telephone: 0049-6171-57622
Telefax: 0049-6171-580257
E-Mail: AuL@t-online.de
Internet: www.arbeitundleben.de/hessen
Other supporting organisations: Bundesarbeitskreis ARBEIT UND LEBEN e.V., Hans-Böckler-Str. 39, 40476 Düsseldorf
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Content and framework conditions of the project work
The initiative was founded in: 1998
The initiative was founded because of the following reasons:

The findings of the discussions of women's themes in women's groups set up by the state working group indicated that there was an increasing need for age-related education measures oriented around specific themes and groups, which we aimed to try and satisfy by offering education courses such as the one described here.
The initiative was founded for a limited period of time:

The plan, as yet, is to offer an annual seminar as long as the demand and the funds are there.
Target group(s): The seminar is open to all women who have a personal interest in the theme of "Women and Old Age".
Targets: To make people aware of and discuss the significance of ageing and the treatment of the old in our socieity, with reference to the background, causes, associated factors and impact, depending on whether the ageing person is a man or a woman.
Details of the work done by the initiative:

The theme of the educational leave seminar is "Women in Old Age", with a view less to the physical and psychological impact, and more to old age as a social phenomenon in a specific social context. Some of the topics to be discussed are:
- Women's specific life circumstances in the process of social and historical change;
- Ageing in a work-oriented society and the consequences for women;
- Ageing women, a cultural comparison;
- The role of older women in other cultures;
- Ageing and old age in the future from a women's viewpoint;
- The future of the contract between the generations.
Areas of work of the initiative:
Education
Success that the initiative has achieved:

Former participants function as multipliers for follow-up seminars.
The dialogue between the generations that takes place in this seminar is now also on offer in other seminars.
Problems that the initiative has been faced during its work:

In view of the precarious financial situation, the programme is newly designed every year.
Minimum participant numbers and open access mean that we have to tap new "advertising sources" in order to attract new participants.
Participation of the target group concerning the conception, planning and implementation of the initiative's work:

Suggestions from participants are considered when planning for the subsequent year.
Co-operation:

Since 1999 we have been working with the national working group ARBEIT UND LEBEN and the trade union "ÖTV" - Hessen. We receive financial support from them and profit from the publication and dissemination of the seminar programme, which also acts as advertising for the seminar.
Information:

We are available for people interested in receiving more information on our initiative by phone, post or e-mail.
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Organisational background of the initiative
Staff:

1 salaried employees at the supporting organisation.
2 volunteers/honorary members.
Budget:

The budget varies.
We receive a subsidy for a single seminar per year by way of a federal fund for the aged or the Federal Office for Political Education.
Sources of funding:
Federal funds
Funds from the supporting organisation(s)
Cooperation agreements, participation fees
Publications or information material available on our initiative:

Project report: "Einszweidrei im Sauseschritt läuft die Zeit, wir laufen mit. Zur Bedeutung des Alterns für Frauen in unserer Gesellschaft", available from the Landesarbeitsgemeinschaft ARBEIT UND LEBEN Hessen, at the address given above.
Recommended literature:

Betty Friedan: Mythos Alter
Doris Dracklé: Alt und zahm?
Hermann Hesse: Mit der Reife wird man immer jünger
Tips and suggestions for people interested in foundig a similar initiative:

We are available for more detailed information on our educational leave seminars.
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2001-04-25