History
The non-governmental non-profit organisation Gender Studies, o.p.s. was founded in 1991 in the apartment of Jiřina Šiklová, a sociologist. Originally, it functioned as a library and so-called Curriculum Centre. One of the main impulses for its foundation was a conference held in Denmark under the name “Women in the Changing Europe” and a European meeting of women from the East and the West in Dubrovnik, both of which occurred in 1991. In Dubrovnik, Jiřina Šiklová met Ann Snitow, member or Network of East-West Women. Informally, they agreed on the support of NEWW to found a centre for gender studies in Prague. The primary goals were to run a library and promote lectures on gender studies at Czech universities.
The organisation was officially founded in 1992; first as a foundation, and later on – after the changes of law – as an organisation for public benefit. In 1994, the centre moved from Jiřina Šiklová’s flat and started an independent existence. Today, its address is Gorazdova 20 in Prague 2. The library is professional and has grown to be the largest library of its kind in Central and Eastern Europe. Thanks to the initiative of Gender Studies, o.p.s., a Centre for Gender Studies was opened at the Philosophical Faculty, Charles University in 1998. Several years later, it moved to the Faculty of Humanities as an independent Department of Gender Studies. Currently, Gender Studies, o.p.s. has focused on consultation and information activities, education and publicity of gender-related issues (including the issue of equal opportunities).