Lesson 5.4: Knowledge and continuity

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In this topic you will discover how knowledge is shared within and across organisations and what the main challenges to collaboration and networking are. You will also explore the intergenerational tensions present in queer and feminist movements and the testimonies of people’s longing for meaningful intergenerational exchanges based on care and mentoring.

2. Burnout and continuity

Queer and feminist organising often happens in cycles. Mobilisation rises during crises, but harsh backlash, burnout, and resource loss can interrupt long-term work.

Examples across Europe show how hostile contexts create barriers:

  • In Belarus, mass repression after 2020 dismantled organisations, destroyed archives, and forced experienced activists into exile. Younger organisers often must ‘reinvent the wheel’ without access to mentors or institutional memory.
  • In Germany, targeted attacks on gender studies and civic educators (e.g. parliamentary inquiries, media smear campaigns) disrupted outreach work. Scholars withdrew from public engagement, slowing knowledge transfer.
  • In Poland, younger activists expressed frustration at generational divides, while older activists noted hope in emerging generations – reflecting the need for intentional intergenerational work.

These examples show that when burnout and repression meet generational fragmentation, knowledge can disappear unless deliberately passed on.