Dear Author, Our EU project EPESEP (Equal Pay Equal Show Equal Pension) is now in its second year. At the heart of the EU project is a study that sheds light on discrimination against women in the literary scene. This scientific study is carried out by FORBA carried out. Forba has designed an online questionnaire for female authors, which will be translated after the test run for partner organisations in Armenia, the Netherlands and Germany. We warmly invite you to take part in our survey as part of the EU project EPESEP – Equal Pay, Equal Show, Equal Pension . The goal of this project is to better understand the social, economic, and public situation of women authors. 👉   Click here to access the survey   The BMKOES Gender Report 2024 confirms what many have long perceived and studies have already shown: women are structurally discriminated against in the literary sector . This is especially visible in the male overrepresentation among prestigious awards and decision-making positions. We want to investigate the deeper causes of these imbalances and document the actual working and living conditions of women writers – in order to develop meaningful solutions and a political agenda for equality. Your participation will help make structural inequalities visible and support calls for real change – for fair pay, better visibility, and secure social protection in the literary field. 👉 Click here to access the survey 🕒 Duration: approx. 10 minutes  🔒 Anonymity: Your responses will remain strictly confidential. About us:  The ≠ig feminist authors collective  is an independent advocacy group by and for feminist authors in Austria. We fight for equality, visibility, and better working conditions in literature, arts, and society. Your participation makes a valuable contribution to advancing equality in the literary world. Thank you for your support and engagement!  Learn more about the EU project:  🌐   https://igfem.at/eu-projekte/  🌐   https://www.igfem.eu/

Expert Panel for the Austria Feminist Reading List Current reading recommendation lists for school lessons at Austrian schools consist of 88% to 100% of the works "of old white men". Feminist narratives hardly appear in it. School is one of the most important places of socialisation – both in the sense of reading and through reading. Stories tell readers what they can be and what they can become in this world. It is therefore important to discuss canonisation and literary historiography for the school anew! Since 2023, together with an expert committee consisting of authors, literary scholars, educational scientists, publishers, booksellers and teachers, ≠ig fem has been developing a feminist reading list for German lessons for the lower and upper level, which we will send to the Ministry of Education after their completion, the educational directorates of the individual federal states as well as to the schools themselves. The aim of the project is to put together a canon that conveys modern female and male role models and depicts the history of women and feminists. Below is an update about our wonderful, Austrian expert panel! 📌 Read more here on the ≠igfem website

Online writing groups are precious spaces for female writers who may face physical, psychological, or geographical barriers that prevent them from participating in in-person writing groups. This initiative by the EPESEP project encourages international female writers to fully participate in the literary community. Mutual help and appreciation are at the centre of our core values, and we hope to create a supportive space in which all members will find their place.  ​ ​​​​​​​​​​​​Our writing groups are in English and last about two hours​ We begin with short introductions Each writer presents the subject she would like to write about The writing phase lasts 1 hour Writers read their texts and occasionally give feedback to one another ​​ Our online writing group takes place every first Monday of the month, between 1pm CET and 3 PM CET. For the sake of inclusivity, the writing group is free of charge, has no age barrier and is open for all writers (published or not) and all genres of creative writing. PS: majority of the current participants enjoy writing poetry!   To join, please send a short description of you and your work to:  world@igfem.at So far we have conducted 13 international writing groups with over 40 active participants globally from Austria, Germany, Armenia, Italy, Netherlands, Cyprus, Slovenia, India, Switzerland, UK etc. 📌 Read a detailed report here (updated in February 2025) 📌 See active participants list 📌 Read a few of our texts from our website English Writing Groups conducted so far:

Progress Reports ≠ig fem (Austria) 📌 see update read our gender study FixDit (Netherlands) 📌   see update Today Art Initiative (Armenia) 📌   see update Brief The EPESEP team is developing an online survey that will be disseminated far and wide to gather and analyse responses on pay, show and pension gap, reception, social and economic standing of female authors in the countries of our Project Partners. The goal is to eventually propose countermeasures to improve the situation throughout Europe. Work Steps Drafting the survey questions in collaboration with an Austrian Interdisciplinary Research Institute, FORBA ( www.forba.at ) Once questions are finalised, making the online survey available in English, German, Dutch and Armenian languages Dispersing the online survey as widely as possible to stakeholders, on the website and on social media. Simultaneously controlling the survey results Conducting 10+ interviews with female authors and literary experts, and setting up focus groups in the participating countries Evaluation and assessment of the online survey (quantitative), and interviews and focus groups (qualitative) in a report by each Partner Organisation which will be made available in national and international reports Determining the best possible course of action on a national and international level Dissemination of results and proposed countermeasures to relevant sources and online channels. Interim results will be presented during the symposia and will be discussed by stakeholders regularly

📌 Instagram 📌 Facebook 📌 Twitter

The EPESEP partner meetings happen mostly on the first Thursday every month at 2 PM CET for a max. of 2 hours. The agenda varies every meeting to cover the management of all task packages, PR and Communications of the EPESEP project and logistics for internal and public events. Partner Meetings for Project Management in 2024 Partner Meetings for Project Management (so far) in 2025

Feminist Writing as part of the EU project-EPESEP August 31 – September 7, 2025 📍 Location: Yerevan, Armenia 📅 Book Fair: September 6 & 7, 2025 📚 EPESEP Symposium: September 3 & 5, 2025 💶 Course Fee: 250 € (Reduced fee available for women authors) ​ ✍️ The Yerevan writing retreat! We invite feminist writers, thinkers, and creatives to join us in Yerevan for a week of writing, exchange, and exploration. In addition to daily writing groups, we will take part in readings, discussions, and the book fair – all set in the inspiring atmosphere of Armenia. ​ ✨ What to expect: 🌍 International feminist networking 📝 Daily writing groups – collective writing & text work 🎤 Readings & exchange with feminist authors from Europe & Armenia 📚 EPESEP Symposium: equality, visibility & literature (Sept 3 & 5) 📖 Yerevan Book Fair: presenting feminist texts & meeting publishers (Sept 6 & 7) 🏛️ Sightseeing & Cultural Program: Matenadaran – one of the world’s most important manuscript collections Yerevan Cascade – monumental outdoor stairway with a breathtaking view Armenian Genocide Memorial – museum & commemoration site Vernissage Market – traditional arts & crafts fair 👥 Self-organization: Travel & accommodation are to be arranged individually. We are happy to share tips and recommendations! We will help connect you with feminist initiatives in Armenia.​ ​ 💌 Participation & Registration: until June 3rd 📩 Apply via email: support@igfem.at ​ We look forward to an inspiring feminist writing week in Yerevan! ✨

19. to 20. Nov 2024, Spektakel, VIENNA The November 2024 ≠igfem reading festival included the ‘Equal Pay, Equal Show, Equal Pension’ (EPESEP) project presentation. Over an intimate and warm gathering of poets, authors and musicians from across Austria, we experienced two heartwarming evenings of writing, song and work.  Authors read their texts from two anthologies: “Weissnet” and “Störfeuer” which was followed by a presentation about the EPESEP project by Gerlinde Hacker and Doro Pointner.   🎤 Music performance by @ mikkmusik

20. to 21. Nov 2024, BRUSSELS The EU-CREA Grant Holder's Meeting in Brussels was a gathering of over 200 Project Leads of EU-funded projects across Europe. The two day intensive allowed everyone to connect, brainstorm ideas for their own project, discuss strategies to take forward each others projects, network, and spend time with their Project Officer (PO).   With presentations from the EU team, workshops designed for participants and information seminars on topics like "the Art of Effective Partnership Management" and "Revealing the environmental impacts of our digital use and infrastructure in Cooperation projects", the overall takeaway made the EPESEP Project Lead, Gerlinde Hacker, more confident in how to tackle challenges and take the work forward.

The EPESEP team is developing an online survey that will be disseminated far and wide to gather and analyse responses on pay, show and pension gap, reception, social and economic standing of female authors in the countries of our Project Partners. The goal is to eventually propose countermeasures to improve the situation throughout Europe. Read the Executive Summary of the Austrian Gender Report in the Fields of Art and Culture 2017-2021.

As part of the EPESEP Work Package #1 , lead partner organisations regularly attended reading events to present the EPESEP project, distribute information material and make key alliances across Europe. EPESEP project presentations at 11 reading events in 2024

Progress Reports ≠ig fem (Austria) 📌 see update read about the Austrian expert panel Schamrock (Germany) 📌   see update FixDit (Netherlands) 📌   see update Brief The EPESEP team is working with a panel of female experts consisting of authors, literary scholars, critics, historians, educationalists, publishers, booksellers and teachers to develop a feminist reading list for lessons in schools across Austria, Germany, Netherlands and Armenia which will be submitted to the respective Ministries of Education for adaptation, once completed. Our Goal The aim of the project is to create the following lists. At first, we work on lists for schools (these should contain approximately 100 titles per list ) ​ Kindergarten Elementary school Secondary school       o   “Lower level” (~10-14 years) (literature and feminist non-fiction)       o   “Upper level” (~14-18 years) (literature and feminist non-fiction) ​ Further, we work on general lists for adults (these have no upper limit of titles) ​ Adults (literature) Adults (feminist non-fiction) University (literature and feminist non-fiction) ​ Our initial focus is on the lists for schools, in particular the lists for lower and upper secondary school. Work Steps Step 1: Inviting experts for the panel Step 2: Collecting titles Step 3: Evaluating titles and assigning them to an age group Step 4: Recommending appropriate titles per age group Step 5: Development of website/public database e.g. search functions for schooltype, age, century, country etc. Step 6: Making the lists publicly available across countries