CCE seeks comment from Gender Studies Programme on promotional content: Critical scrutiny must begin at home, standards only matter if they apply equally to everyone

Do the promotional materials of the Faculty of Political Science at the University of Montenegro place the emphasis on knowledge and educational opportunities, or on the physical appearance of female students? This is one of the questions raised by the Centre for Civic Education (CCE), which has asked the University of Montenegro’s Gender Studies Programme to provide an expert opinion on the way women and men are represented in the Faculty’s official communications.

In a post on the social media platform X, the CCE states that certain promotional videos, through their choice of shots, filming techniques and emphasis on the physical appearance of female students, raise concerns about the possible reproduction of gender stereotypes and the marginalisation of the educational purpose of such content.

- At the same time, women appear to be more prominently represented in some of the Faculty’s promotional posts. While this may partly reflect the composition of the student population, it also raises the question of how consistent this practice is with the University's Gender Equality Plan 2022–2026, which, among other things, provides for gender-responsive communication, the elimination of stereotypes and the encouragement of greater participation by men in the social sciences and humanities - the Centre for Civic Education noted.

The CCE recalls that lecturers from the Gender Studies Programme had previously publicly described one of its satirical illustrations as sexist and misogynistic.

- We challenged that assessment with reasoned arguments. Precisely for this reason, we expect them to apply the same level of attention and critical scrutiny to content published by the organisational units of the university to which they belong - the NGO stated.

Gender equality, they emphasised, cannot be a principle applied selectively.

- Academic institutions that promote these values have a particular responsibility to uphold them consistently in their own practices as well. Critical scrutiny must begin at home, and standards only matter if they apply equally to everyone - the Centre for Civic Education concluded.