SPREADVERSCHLUSS

Against the Body Language of the Patriarchy!

Jeans with Velcro fasteners on the insides of the legs are arranged on three pedestals.

25. November 2025

On the occasion of the UN campaign Orange the World for an end to violence against women and girls, we revisit the Master project of Angewandte alumna Verena Herterich (MA 2025, Department Social Design, supervised by Brigitte Felderer & Elina Kränzle). SPREADVERSCHLUSS draws attention to, and exposes, structural gender-based violence where it occurs on normalised – and often unconscious – bodily levels in public space, and where it repeatedly inscribes itself into bodies and environments.

Taking manspreading as a starting point, the work makes embodied gender hierarchies and patriarchal cis-male modes of dominance in relation to body and space visible and playfully challenges them through humour and empowerment.

The project, created by Verena Herterich in collaboration with Laura Fellerer, consists of performative actions in Vienna’s subway lines U3 and U4, where the Spreadverschluss trousers were used as artistic-activist tools, as well as an anti-manspreading merchandise set.

On the one hand, the project encourages cis men to consciously and critically reflect on how they take up space in public areas. On the other hand, it aims to offer empowerment, support and solidarity to those affected by this behaviour.

More details about the Master project of Verena Herterich

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