Self-governance and nonhierarchical organisation in Jako Doma, o.p.s.: A Case Study of a Feminist Degrowth Nowtopia

The aim of this work is to explore operating in the workplace in the form of self- governance, without formal hierarchies and external decision-making structures, which are often out of direct contact with the day-to-day affairs of the organisation. What benefits and challenges does the equal distribution of responsibilities in the organization bring, and how do its members experience it? The field for research is the Czech non-profit organization Jako Doma, o.p.s. working with women without shelter. The data for this research were obtained through interviews and participant observation in the workplace with the workforce of the organization. The theoretical part of the work relies on feminist and degrowth theory, which challenges Euro-centric and patriarchal approaches to knowledge and the organization of power. This framework allows for a view of the ways in which self-directed forms of organisation can contribute to the erosion of traditional hierarchical structures and the reproduction of power inequalities. The research looks at how self-management in Jako Doma, o.p.s. contributes to the creation of feminist-degrowth nowtopias, how power and hierarchy are dealt with here, and what challenging situations self-management can bring. Key words Self-governance, social work, feminism, degrowth, hierarchy