Campaign Raises Awareness of Discrimination

The equal opportunities offices at RWTH and FH Aachen are displaying posters on the topic #CheckYourStereotypes.

With the #CheckYourStereotypes campaign, the equal opportunities offices of RWTH Aachen University and FH Aachen want to draw attention to various forms of discrimination that exist. Sexism, racism, ableism, classism and heteronormativity are addressed on large-scale posters. The posters were designed by graphic artist Hélène Baum-Owoyele.

"The aim of the campaign is to raise awareness of the issue of discrimination in the university context and to make people more aware of the advice services available," explains Dr. Ulrike Brands-Proharam Gonzalez, Equal Opportunities Officer at RWTH Aachen University. "How do sexism, racism, classism, ableism and cis-heteronormativity work and how can we counter the associated microaggressions in everyday university life?" adds Stephanie Over, Equal Opportunities Officer at the FH.

At RWTH Aachen University, these posters will be hanging on the construction fences at Templergraben near the main building from now until February 2. The exhibition will be accompanied by a kick-off event of the Equal Opportunities Offices on Wednesday, November 29. From 4.30pm, the Vice-Rectors Prof. Sabine Brück (RWTH) and Martina Klocke (FH) will welcome Dr. Ann-Kristin Kolwes and Emilene Wopana Mudimu to give keynote speeches on the topic of the campaign. Kolwes will talk about "Social background & educational justice in higher education", and Mudimu will speak on "Criticism of racism & anti-racism work at universities".