Toppling Gender Norms. Time for New Monuments

How did a telephone call help women* become equal partners in marriage? Why did the “Vienna Underwear War” change the way we look at advertising? How does a passport help put a stop to unnecessary medical procedures on intersex children? Whose offices had to be occupied to achieve rights for people with disabilities? And what role does chalk play in the fight against sexual harassment? 

Through these little-known examples, this exhibition in the House of Austrian History highlights the strategies that can change gendered power relations. The exhibition “Toppling Gender Norms” tells ten stories of people who did not accept seemingly fixed categories, who fought for progress, and who toppled clichés from their pedestals. Their dissent and their commitment have shaped our present day—and opened up discussion on what gender can mean tomorrow. 

The museum is also making space online for lots of other famous and lesser-known women* pioneers, rebels and role-models in a digital exhibition called “space for heroic women”. Discover them now!

Curators: Stefan Benedik, Marianna Nenning  |  Design, planning and project management: Nora Pierer  |  Graphics and layout: Tanja Jenni  |   Editing: Eva Meran  |  Academic advisor: Heidemarie Uhl  |  Special focus contributors: Anna Bausch, Sebastian Dallinger, Dominik Ivancic, Laura Langeder  |  Object preparation, donation management: Laura Langeder, Johannes Pötzlberger  |  Conservation: Petra Süß  |  Proofreading: Julia Friehs  |   English translation: Joanna White  |  Communication and topic development: Ildiko Füredi-Kolarik, Lorenz Paulus, Simone Schmid  |   Social media: Louise Beckershaus, Katharina Kraus  |  Production assistance: Markus Fösl, Antonia Plessing  |  Art handling, montage, display production: Vienna Arthandling  |  Production of symbolic objects: Verena Geier  |  Media production: 7reasons  |  Web exhibition hdgoe.at/heldinnen: treat.agency  |  Grateful thanks to: Jennifer Carvill-Schellenbacher, Isabell Engels, Lena Foerster, Lisa Gensluckner, Tobias Humer, Monika Jarosch, Birgit Johler, Anna Leder, Susan Molkenbuhr, Michaela Pfundner, Martin Preinesberger, Heidrun Zettelbauer and all contributors to the web exhibition More Space for Heroic Women* hdgoe.at/heldinnen  |  Donors and licensors: APA Picturedesk, Andrea Ernst, Stephanie Gaberl, IG24, Alex Jürgen, Florian Klenk, Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, Österreichische Mediathek, Susanne Riess, Elisabeth Schmied 

June 15–October 26, 2023: kärnten.museum, Klagenfurt am Wörthersee, Austria

March 2–May 28, 2023: Nordico City Museum, Linz, Austria

October 22, 2021–June 12, 2022: House of Austrian History