Organized by the TPO Foundation as part of the UNIGEM project, three webinars titled “Women in Language and Society: From the Fairer Sex to Victims of Femicide” were held on February 20, 24, and 28.

Participants had the opportunity to learn about the most common linguistic practices in both the public and private spheres in our speech area, which subtly or overtly assign women a lower status within the heterosexual binary framework.

The webinars were led by contemporary culture theorist Dr. Emilija Radibratović and public prosecutor Gorjana Mirčić Čaluković across three sessions.
Dr. Radibratović gave a lecture on “Beauty, Powerlessness, and Inferiority of Women in Language and Society”, while Mirčić Čaluković spoke on “Language as the Origin of Gender-Based Violence and an Obstacle to Justice”. In addition to the lectures, participants worked in groups and engaged in discussions.

During the webinars, participants had the chance to explore the origins of the meanings of words and phrases associated with women, which perpetuate centuries-old ideas of their powerlessness, lesser societal significance, and focus on physical appearance and reproductive power, as well as stereotypes such as deceitfulness, fickleness, and garrulity. Special attention was given to these language and societal practices on two of the most influential public platforms—media and the judiciary—since violence begins with language.