Project period: January 2025 to December 2028
In the project “Different yet strong: Encountering intersectionality in the women’s shelter” The aim is to raise awareness of intersectionality and multiple discrimination within the support system – especially in women's shelters. Staff at the model locations will be supported in better embedding intersectional perspectives in their daily practice.
The project offers space for reflection and further education on topics such as racism, ableism, classism, queer and transphobia. Through workshops, expert input, and collegial exchange, action competencies are strengthened, enabling discrimination-sensitive access for all women affected by violence and TIN.[1]-people enable.
The long-term goal is to create women's shelters as safe spaces for all women and TIN people – regardless of skin color, origin, physical abilities, religion, social status, age or other characteristics and experiences of discrimination.
Discrimination doesn't operate in isolation—it overlaps. Those who experience racism, ableism, or poverty, for example, often face additional hurdles in protecting themselves from violence. Our project empowers women's shelters to recognize these barriers—for fairer access, long-term change, and solidarity-based practice.
Women's shelters are intended to be safe spaces for as many women and TIN persons affected by gender-based violence as possible. In practice, however, this is often hindered by structural and societal barriers that make access difficult, particularly for multiply marginalized groups. Experiences of discrimination, insufficient resources, unreflective exclusion mechanisms, or a lack of knowledge about intersectional Discrimination can lead to certain affected people not receiving the necessary support.
The project addresses precisely this important point: It accompanies and strengthens the professionals at the model locations in their exploration of intersectionality and supports them in further deepening previously initiated reflection processes on experiences of discrimination. Because a support system that aims to be truly inclusive cannot avoid addressing existing power relations – including in its own professional activities.
We treat our specialists with great respect: They are the experts in the specific characteristics and challenges of their respective institutions. We see our role as one of support – with the goal of creating spaces in which our own solutions can be developed and tested.
The project is aimed at professionals from the participating model locations. They are at the center of the training and reflection programs and actively participate in shaping the project content.
Women affected by violence also benefit indirectly, especially those with intersectional experiences of discrimination – for example, Black women, women with disability, trans* women or homeless women. A diversity-sensitive approach to work will help better identify and address their needs in the future.
The project is divided into several successive phases:
The project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education, Family, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth as part of the federal program “Living Democracy!”.
[1] TIN* is an abbreviation and stands for trans*, inter* and non-binary people.
The following federal associations are members of the Women’s Shelter Coordination Association
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