Update on EPESEP Work Package #3: Feminist Reading List by ≠igfem

The Austrian Report, June 2025

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The following passages can be found in the Austrian curriculum for the subject German: "Mechanisms of discrimination and violations of equality [...] in linguistic formulations in texts [...] are analyzed and questioned." And: "Working with literary [...] texts [...] allows [pupils] to get to know, adopt and question different views of the world." 

However, these demands on the reading socialization of children and young people at school are still far from being sufficiently implemented. A glance at schools is enough to see this: Current reading recommendations for German lessons consist of 88% to 100% works by men. Feminist narratives are virtually non-existent. Female perspectives, especially of the past, are largely ignored. The texts covered are almost exclusively representative of a male literary history. Problematic images of women are accepted. 

The history of women and the history of female writing is a different one. Their perception of the world, their perspectives and realities of life have always differed. A young girl attending school in Austria should have the practically realized right to learn about this history. This is why ≠igfem is calling for more texts by women from different eras to be included in school reading. School is one of the most important places of socialization. Stories tell readers what they can be and become in this world. Consequently, canonization and literary historiography for schools need to be discussed anew!

For this reason, ≠igfem is working with a panel of experts to develop a feminist reading list for German lessons in lower and upper secondary schools from 2023. The aim of the project is to compile a canon that conveys modern female and male role models and depicts the history of women.

Project objective

The following lists are in progress: 

Lists for schools (around 100 titles per list): 

• Lower school (10-14 years) (literature & feminist non-fiction)

• Upper school (14-18 years) (literature & feminist non-fiction)

Lists for adults: 

• Recommendations for the university (literary studies subjects) (around 200 titles per list)

• Feminist non-fiction (around 100 titles per list)

• Adults general (no upper limit, open list) 

The following additional lists are planned (around 100 titles per list): 

• Kindergarten (reading books, 3-10 years)

• Elementary school (children's literature, 6-10 years)

Project steps 

1. Putting together a panel of experts (completed)

2. Collect titles (completed)

3. Rate titles and assign age groups (completed)

4. Curating final lists (in progress)

5. Presentation of the lists on the website (in progress)

6. Public relations (in progress)

7. Focus on children's literature: New, expanded panel of experts, collecting new titles, curating new lists for kindergarten and elementary school (still pending)

   
   

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📌 Read the full report here