Here at FEM, we delve into the captivating story of feminism in Germany. It’s a journey marked by challenges, triumphs and ongoing evolution.
The earliest whispers of German feminism echo from the Medieval period. Some women challenged gender norms. However, Salic law disadvantaged women regarding property and inheritance. Social status favored military and biological roles for men.
The Enlightenment sparked feminist thinking in England and France. Germany lagged. Upper-class women in England and France became prolific feminist writers. A similar network was slow to emerge in German-speaking regions. Sophie Mereau launched the “Almanach für Frauen” in 1784.
Germany’s unification in 1871 prioritized the “Fatherland” theme. Yet, women organized. Middle-class women joined the Bund Deutscher Frauenvereine. It was the Union of German Feminist Organizations. Founded in 1894, it grew to include 137 groups by 1907. The Nazi regime disbanded it in 1933.
The BDF aimed for equality in education, finances and politics. Socialist feminists championed working-class women’s rights. Marie Stritt was a key figure. She advocated for women’s suffrage. Stritt also fought for access to higher education. She sought to end state-regulated prostitution. Her goals included free access to contraception and abortion.
Access to education was a battleground. By the 1870s, formal education for middle and upper-class girls was the norm in German cities. It ended at menarche. Anita Augspurg became Germany’s first woman university graduate. She earned a law degree from the University of Zurich, Switzerland.
The Weimar Republic brought significant gains. The 1919 Weimar Constitution enacted equality in education. It ensured equal opportunity in civil service. It also mandated equal pay. Germany’s Reichstag had 32 women deputies in 1926.
The Nazi era reversed many gains. The Nazis believed women should be subservient to men. Women were to focus on childbearing. Laws protecting women’s rights were repealed. Women were barred from government and university jobs.
After World War II, West Germany’s political life was conservative. Feminist issues resurfaced. A new generation of feminists agitated for change. Alice Schwarzer founded the feminist magazine EMMA in 1977.
East Germany promoted equality between the sexes. However, women still bore the brunt of housework. By 1977, West German women could work without their husbands’ permission.
By the 21st century, intersectionality gained attention. Feminist Anne Wizorek emphasized the importance of intersectionality. Networked feminism grew with social media. The #aufschrei (outcry) hashtag protested sexist harassment.
Women’s representation in government improved. Angela Merkel became a key figure. In 2015, Germany set a gender quota for supervisory boards. Today, the fight for equality continues. FEM stands as a reminder of the long road traveled. It highlights the work that remains.