Women in the Weimar Republic
Between the periods of Imperial Germany and Nazi Germany, the semi-democratic Weimar Republic emerged – a most-important time for women and their emancipation. During 1918 and 1933, no other group was affected as much as German women[i], since they represented society’s expectations for the future stability and modernity of the German Reich. Women’s roles differed strongly to those within Imperial and Nazi Germany. Women were more than just mothers and wives – the so-called “New Woman” actually had a say in the Republic’s daily life.
Female suffrage was a significant step towards emancipation, a step brought by the ruins of World War I. Countless people wanted to move away from Imperial Germany’s laws and traditions; people wanted change. The Weimar Republic gave women the right to vote in 1918– their voices were thus finally heard within politics. 49 women made it into the Parliament, a sign that female suffrage ultimately helped changing people’s mentality and that women could indeed be equal to men. Moreover, female suffrage gave women a sense of emancipation, which certainly was a new feeling to most of them.
However, it is important to clarify that suffrage did not automatically give women equal rights in actual terms. Even many female politicians publicly argued against their suffrage, as, for instance, Reichstag member Paula Müller-Otfried, and on the average women voted more for the Catholic and other bourgeois parties than for the socialists.[ii] Furthermore, women’s interest in politics dropped drastically in the last years of the Republic (although the percentage of female members quadrupled in its first years). Unfortunately, as we can see, female suffrage also had many opponents. Several parties campaigned for “Motherhood” and the “traditional German woman”. Countless people – including women – believed that the Weimar Republic would destroy femininity and more importantly: family. They thought that “mixing up the genders’ roles” would lead to an immense chaos with family break-ups, divorce and children without parents. The fear of the people left the Republic’s government little choice; female suffrage remained but so did the limited access to birth control and the illegality of abortion. These laws were viewed as essential for promoting marriage and repopulating Germany after the war and, sadly, no woman could deny them. In 1925, however, the SPD succeeded in changing the ban on abortion[iii].
However, it is important to clarify that suffrage did not automatically give women equal rights in actual terms. Even many female politicians publicly argued against their suffrage, as, for instance, Reichstag member Paula Müller-Otfried, and on the average women voted more for the Catholic and other bourgeois parties than for the socialists.[ii] Furthermore, women’s interest in politics dropped drastically in the last years of the Republic (although the percentage of female members quadrupled in its first years). Unfortunately, as we can see, female suffrage also had many opponents. Several parties campaigned for “Motherhood” and the “traditional German woman”. Countless people – including women – believed that the Weimar Republic would destroy femininity and more importantly: family. They thought that “mixing up the genders’ roles” would lead to an immense chaos with family break-ups, divorce and children without parents. The fear of the people left the Republic’s government little choice; female suffrage remained but so did the limited access to birth control and the illegality of abortion. These laws were viewed as essential for promoting marriage and repopulating Germany after the war and, sadly, no woman could deny them. In 1925, however, the SPD succeeded in changing the ban on abortion[iii].
The War had not only given women the right to vote but it also gave them the opportunity to work. Jobs, which were previously only “jobs for men” were now unisexual jobs (e.g. driver, miner, factory worker, etc.). By 1936, 36% of the workforce consisted of women – and this in industrial, clerical and agricultural areas. Nonetheless, the idea that female employment meant that gender equality existed in Weimar Germany is far from true[iv]. Women had to endure lower wages and bad treatment at work. Healthy men came back from the front, as well, and they often wanted their jobs back. When, by February 1919, there were still 1.1 million individuals unemployed, demobilization orders stipulated that women should return to their original profession, be it the typical female occupation in the textile industry or at home.[v] Several women were thus dismissed by these orders and were to go back to either the textile industry or being a housewife. Adding to that, numerous soldiers came back unhealthy (injured, shell-shocked or generally mentally disordered) and needed their wife to be home for help. Women did not really have a choice but to go home and quit work – if they weren’t fired before it, of course. By 1925, however, there were over 1,700,000 more women who had a full-time job than in 1907 (and that everywhere, not only in the textile industry) and the number of women workers on the fields increased by 82%. At the same time the percentage of women in domestic service declined from 17.1% to 12%.[vi] Generally speaking, younger, unmarried women had more freedom within the business world than married ones, as married ones often stayed at home to take care of the household while their husbands were working.
Sexuality overall became very popular amongst women, as the film industry stopped making a “taboo” about it. Marlene Dietrich and other well-known actresses constantly sang and talked about sex and how they love flirting with men. This is all a sign of emancipation and how women became more self-confident and stronger. Cabarets became also very popular, letting women show their “kinky side” and dance in a very sensual way. Women wore a lot of make-up, high heels and colour-died their hair (a very great contrast to the women in the Third Reich). Feminists nowadays would see women dancing sensually as women being treated as objects for men’s personal desire; yet, within the Weimar Republic, it was a sign of emancipation since they did it for their own pleasure – they enjoyed sexuality being free.
The New Woman that emerged in the Weimar Republic was independent and mostly emancipated. She was different to “normal workingwomen” in that time as she set the focus on herself and refused to be treated worse than any man. In 1929 Elsa Herrmann described the features and worldview of the New Woman, saying how she “refuses to lead the life of a lady and a housewife” but instead hoping to go her own way in life[vii]. The New Woman believed that she had a greater role than just bearing children – the decrease of Germany’s birth rate can thus be closely linked with this. Art and Culture were very influenced by this masculine and strong New Woman that showed her body, smoked and drank in public and refused to fit into the simple “mother and wife” picture.
In conclusion, it is clear that full equality had not yet been achieved within the Weimar Republic. Several women, especially married ones, still had to be housewives and took care of their children. Within larger cities such as Berlin, however, the New Woman emerged – a self-confident, emancipated woman. She believed in herself and showed what she had without holding back. Not every woman had the luck to call herself a “New woman”; neither did every woman believe that it was good to be one. Opponents to feminism and emancipation remained and so did inequalities such as lower wages at work. Nonetheless female suffrage has been achieved, as well as women being allowed to work within politics (or other higher positions). Sexuality had also stopped being a taboo, and so did nudity in general. Whether or not men and women will ever be fully equal is unclear; the New Woman, however, certainly fought for it.
[i] The Roles and Representations of Women in the Weimar Republic by torimaher
[ii] Germany, 1919-1933 (Weimar Republic) by Albrecht Classen
[iii] Germany, 1919-1933 (Weimar Republic) by Albrecht Classen
[iv] The Roles and Representations of Women in the Weimar Republic by torimaher
[v] Germany, 1919-1933 (Weimar Republic) by Albrecht Classen
[vi] Germany, 1919-1933 (Weimar Republic) by Albrecht Classen
[vii] The Roles and Representations of Women in the Weimar Republic by torimaher
[i] The Roles and Representations of Women in the Weimar Republic by torimaher
[ii] Germany, 1919-1933 (Weimar Republic) by Albrecht Classen
[iii] Germany, 1919-1933 (Weimar Republic) by Albrecht Classen
[iv] The Roles and Representations of Women in the Weimar Republic by torimaher
[v] Germany, 1919-1933 (Weimar Republic) by Albrecht Classen
[vi] Germany, 1919-1933 (Weimar Republic) by Albrecht Classen
[vii] The Roles and Representations of Women in the Weimar Republic by torimaher
Another stirring video! This time with Juliane Schmidt about
Marlene Dietrich.
Marlene Dietrich.
Sorry for the background noises!! If you did not understand everything properly, please read the written version of the interview below:
K: Today we have the honour to talk to Juliane Schmidt. Juliane, please tell our viewers a little bit about yourself.
J: Hello, my name is Juliane and today I shall talk about Marlene Dietrich, former best friend of my great-grandmother.
K: Thank you, Juliane. So, let us begin! Did Marlene believe in traditional gender roles?
J: No no, she did certainly not… For example, she loved boxing! It may seem strange, but she really did. She was a tough woman and she believed in herself. She didn’t want to be a typical mother or housewife. She was like many “New Women” from the Weimar Republic and one can see herself as a feminist… Marlene often said that she “dresses for herself and not for men”. She was also well-known for manipulating the “female image”, as she did everything that was seen as “traditional” for a woman.
K: Can you talk a little about Marlene’s career?
J: Well, in her early years Marlene worked as chorus girl. However, she soon found herself in theatres as either a chorus girl or as actress, but she mainly played small roles, nothing major. Nobody really noticed her at first. Her first movie followed afterwards, “Little Napoleon”, where she only played a bit part. In 1929, she had her breakthrough as Lola Lola in the movie “The Blue Angel”. After that, other major projects followed… The Blond Venus, Shanghai Express, and so on… She was really a great actress.
K: How did her love life go?
J: She was married to Rudolf Sieber and together they had a child, Maria Elisabeth Sieber. But, I need to add that Marlene had had several affairs, with both men and women, being bisexual. She enjoyed life and did not see why she would only stay with one man only. She was truly free…
K: Could you try explaining how these so-called New Women were in general?
J: They were definitely emancipated, self-confident and strong. They enjoyed sexuality, culture, music, dancing, drinking,… Everything you and I enjoy today! The Weimar Republic was lively and experimental and the New Women were in the heart of this new world. They did not necessarily want to have a big family with husband and children - they just wanted fun!