Feministisches Frauengesundheitszentrum FFGZ e.V.
The
Feministisches FrauenGesundheitsZentrum e.V. Berlin (FFGZ)
editThe Feministische FrauenGesundheitsZentrum e.V. Berlin (FFGZ), founded in 1974, is primarily a social institution dedicated to promoting and supporting women-centered healthcare. As the first such institution in Germany and Europe, the FFGZ has played a pioneering role in the women's health movement.
Key Products and Services
editThe FFGZ offers a wide range of services and events tailored to the specific health needs of women and girls. The main offerings include:
- Health-specific Counseling: Individual and group-based counseling on women-specific health topics, including contraception, menopause, depression, and the health consequences of sexual violence[3][5].
- Self-help Courses: Courses on vaginal and breast self-examination, as well as workshops on topics such as stress reduction, relaxation, and physical strengthening[3][5].
- Lectures and Workshops: Regular events on various health topics that provide practical self-help tips and opportunities for sharing experiences[3][5].
- Library: A comprehensive collection of specialized literature and journals on women-specific health topics[5].
Mission and Values
editThe mission of the FFGZ is to provide women and girls with independent, health-specific information and support services to strengthen their autonomy over their own bodies and sexuality. The center sees itself as an advocate for women-centered healthcare and is critical of potential instrumentalization, pathologization, and medicalization of female health by the medical and pharmaceutical industries[1][4].
Sustainability Goals and Initiatives
editThe FFGZ works closely with local and national networks to ensure comprehensive and sustainable support for women. This includes:
- Cooperations: Partnerships with municipal institutions, hospitals, health offices, and social counseling centers to enable integrated care[1].
- Networking: The FFGZ is part of the Federal Association of Women's Health Centers in Germany and the network of Austrian Women's Health Centers to work together for equitable health opportunities for women and girls[1].
- Funding: The work of the FFGZ is supported by the Senate Administration for Science, Health, and Care, and the center is a member of the Paritätischer Wohlfahrtsverband[4].
Additional Information
editThe FFGZ is a non-profit organization characterized by its grassroots democratic and power-critical orientation. It offers its services in a discrimination-sensitive and empathetic manner and is aimed at all individuals who have concerns and questions about women-specific health topics, including non-binary and gender-fluid individuals[4][5].
With its motto "Women's Health in Our Own Hands," the FFGZ has been setting standards in the women's health movement for over 40 years and remains an important anchor point for the health and well-being of women in Germany and beyond.