The Power in White: Women’s Protest in Belarus

Maryia Schasnaya (Regensburg)

Beginning:

Wednesday, 21 May 2025 18:15

Second lecture in our FORUM series for the new term, part of the broader lecture series "Gendered (Non-)Revolutions: On the Political and Cultural Significance of Women's Protests", organized by Juliane Tomann and Natali Stegmann, Equal Opportunity and Diversity Representatives at the GS OSES (UR). 

Abstract:

The largest nationwide anti-government protest in the history of Belarus took place in the wake of the 2020 presidential elections. Although it was not specifically a gender-based protest, women played an outstanding role in it. They not only led it but also brought a unique pure yet strong touch to it, earning the worldwide admiration.

More information on the lecture series:

Gendered (Non-)Revolutions: On the Political and Cultural Significance of Women's Protests

Gender: Is it just a provocation against good male rule, or what is it about? Why does female protest emerge so often in regimes at the political dead end, acting violently and cynical against their populations? Are gender roles a signifier for the danger and / or the need for political and cultural change? In our series of talks we would like to pose these questions by looking at different case studies from Eastern Europe and Middle East. Without essentializing neither the regions, nor gender relations, we will analyse the forms and agendas of female protest, asking what they are about, how they spread and for what kind of change women are risking their lives in different parts of the world.

Venue:
GS OSES^UR, Landshuter Straße 4, 93047 Regensburg, room 017 (ground floor)