Conclusion
After having analysed women’s lives within communism (The Soviet Union under Lenin and Stalin), democracy (the Weimar Republic) and fascism (Nazi Germany under Hitler), I am now aware to what extent their lives differed and how difficult it must have been for many of them. Firstly, I was impressed on how Lenin wanted to achieve emancipation; yet sad how people’s (especially men’s) mentality made it almost impossible. However, when looking closer at Lenin’s ideology and new laws, I began to believe that he did not fully aim for emancipation, but rather manipulated women into making them work since the Soviet Union needed workers. Lenin did believe that full communism was only achievable when both sexes were equal, but he surely was not a feminist – and neither were his male comrades. His laws were here to make women and men equal, but reality remained different. Moreover, when Stalin came to reign, women were to enjoy “Motherhood” and being a housewife anew; Stalin believed in traditional roles of both sexes. This was similar to Hitler’s beliefs; he wanted women to enjoy “Motherhood”, as well, and saw their main role in childbearing as he aimed for Aryans to reproduce themselves as much as possible. Women were forbidden several things that seem natural to any emancipated woman today (wearing make-up or high-heeled shoes, dying one’s hair, having a high-positioned job, etc.), yet he was against it. He took away most of women’s rights and numerous of them did not mind; they were charmed by the Führer being erotic and appreciated him. Likewise, many women did not like the New Woman that had emerged within the Weimar Republic and they believed that it destroyed families and traditions. In Weimar Germany, before Hitler became Chancellor and Führer, the New Woman showed her face; the most emancipated of all regimes. She talked about flirting, sex and enjoyed her job, as well as smoking in public and wearing make-up or revealing clothes. She was the freest of all. Yet, not every woman was this free in the Weimar Republic… And the New Woman was not fully emancipated, either, although she surely was close to it.
Hence, I believe that the New Woman under the Weimar Republic (thus democracy) was the most equal to men, while the woman in the Third Reich was the one who was the least emancipated. It is very surprising how quickly things can change in a few years… Women in the Soviet Union were “in between” democracy and fascism when we talk about emancipation. Under Lenin, they were closer to women in the Weimar Republic and under Stalin they were closer to women in Hitler’s Third Reich. However, in Russia it is important to add that mentality and reality strongly differed, especially in Lenin’s years.
In conclusion, it can be shown that women today would probably resemble the New Woman from the Weimar Republic the most- and this is certainly a good thing. I strongly hope that full emancipation and equality will be achieved someday and I am more than happy to live in a country where we are at least close to it.
“Equality is not a concept. It's not something we should be striving for. It's a necessity. Equality is like gravity. We need it to stand on this earth as men and women, and the misogyny that is in every culture is not a true part of the human condition. It is life out of balance, and that imbalance is sucking something out of the soul of every man and woman who's confronted with it. We need equality. Kinda now.” – Joss Whedon.
Hence, I believe that the New Woman under the Weimar Republic (thus democracy) was the most equal to men, while the woman in the Third Reich was the one who was the least emancipated. It is very surprising how quickly things can change in a few years… Women in the Soviet Union were “in between” democracy and fascism when we talk about emancipation. Under Lenin, they were closer to women in the Weimar Republic and under Stalin they were closer to women in Hitler’s Third Reich. However, in Russia it is important to add that mentality and reality strongly differed, especially in Lenin’s years.
In conclusion, it can be shown that women today would probably resemble the New Woman from the Weimar Republic the most- and this is certainly a good thing. I strongly hope that full emancipation and equality will be achieved someday and I am more than happy to live in a country where we are at least close to it.
“Equality is not a concept. It's not something we should be striving for. It's a necessity. Equality is like gravity. We need it to stand on this earth as men and women, and the misogyny that is in every culture is not a true part of the human condition. It is life out of balance, and that imbalance is sucking something out of the soul of every man and woman who's confronted with it. We need equality. Kinda now.” – Joss Whedon.