Sparkles on Air – Young feminist radio against right-wing populism

‘Why are young people in particular so susceptible to right-wing populist ideas?’ We heard this question a lot after the results of the EU elections in June and the state elections at the beginning of September. Anyone who asks this question is generalising the life plans of an entire generation. After all, it is mainly young people who want to drive things forward: Gender equality, for example.

Feminist radio from Leipzig

The example of the Sparkles from Leipzig shows that girls and young FLINTA (women, lesbians, inter-, non-binary, trans and agender people) play a major role in this. The Sparkles are a project of Hörfunk- und Projektwerkstatt Leipzig, a current partner in filia's girls' empowerment programme. The Sparkles produce radio programmes on topics that they miss in other media: they talk about strong role models for FLINTA, about women in the music scene or about disinformation and fake news. Very personal topics such as self-esteem, pressure to perform and experiences of discrimination are also discussed. In order to reach as many young people as possible, the Sparkles also regularly broadcast live and visibly from public spaces, for example from the Federal Conference of Gender Equality Officers or the Leizpzig Women*FLINTA*Festival.

The Sparkles in conversation

How difficult is the struggle to make your voice heard as a girl and young FLINTA? And what is fun about it? What particular challenges do the Sparkles face as a group that is particularly active in eastern Germany? What does it take to make the media landscape gender-equitable? We will be discussing this on 25 September 2024 at 7 pm with two young women from the Sparkles, Valentina Woepke and Aleksandra Milanovic, and media educator Katja Röckel. Journalist Barbara Kostolnik will moderate.

Registration: veranstaltung@filia-frauenstiftung.de