Author in Austria: Survey reveals equality problems!

Author in Austria: Survey reveals equality problems!

Atelierstraße 18, 81671 München, Deutschland - On June 19, 2025, IG Feminist authors start a comprehensive survey on the social, economic and public situation of authors in Austria. This survey is part of the EU project EPESEP (Equal Pay, Equal Show, Equal Pension), which aims to recognize structural inequalities and to demand improvements in the areas of payment, visibility and social security. All authors are invited to participate in this survey in order to realistically map the conditions in the literary company and to identify political need for action. Gerlinde Hacker, the contact person for this project, can be reached at +436643405743 or by email to support@igfem.at. Further information can be found on the website of the IG feminist authors ( igfem.at ).

The EPESEP project runs as part of a larger European engagement, which is promoted by workshops and symposia. An important event is the EPESEP symposium, which will take place in Munich from October 25th to 27th, 2024 as part of the Schamrock Rock Festival. In this symposium, EU project partners from the Netherlands, Armenia, Austria and Germany will present their work steps and partial results. As reported igfem.at , public workshops and events are planned for festival participants.

EPESEP symposium in Munich

As part of the symposium, a number of workshops are offered. On October 25, 2024 at 1:00 p.m., a reading entitled "Reading List" will take place, presented by Hannah Oppolzer, Gerlinde Hacker and Doro Pointner. This is followed by the "English Writing Group" on October 26, 2024 at 11:00 a.m., led by Verena Mermer, Gerlinde Hacker and Mehak Gupta. The conclusion on October 27, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. presentations on the "discrimination against women in the Austrian literary business" and the "visibility of authors in the Austrian print press", performed by Doro Pointner, Gerlinde Hacker and Eva Surma.

The discussion about the social and economic situation of authors in Europe forms a central component of the events. Reports from poets and activists such as Stella Nyanzi from Uganda and Christine Yohannes from Ethiopia/Kenya will underline the global perspective on the challenges that writers face. The get-together on October 27 at 6 p.m. invites you to further network the participants.

structural inequalities in the focus

The need for such initiatives is reinforced by the existing social inequalities between women and men. As shown in the context of social change in Germany, gender -specific differences have decreased in recent decades, but there are still significant challenges. Women are overrepresented in certain professions, but earn an average of 14% less than men one year after completing their apprenticeship. This discrepancy is also evident in the literature, where women are often underrepresented in management positions or publications ( bpb.de ).

The survey of IG feminist authors thus represents an important step in order to further address the inadequate visibility and the structural inequalities of authors in Austria and to improve the political and social framework for women in literature. Only through the active participation of the authors can a realistic picture of the current situation be drawn.