5. Women in Weimar Germany

Question 1

What slogan was used to describe women during years before WW1? What does it translate into?

Answer 1

“Kinder Küche Kirche” meaning women, kitchen and religion

Question 2

Who would control marriage of women in pre WW1 Germany?

Answer 2

The father

Question 3

Were men and women equal in pre ww1 Germany?

Answer 3

No. Legal inequality

Question 4

Role of women in pre ww1 Germany

Answer 4

Wife and mother
To comfort and please men

Question 5

What did Germany rely on women for during ww1? Why?

Answer 5

Germany relied on women for manufacturing as there was a shortage of men as they were fighting

Question 6

Roles of women during ww1

Answer 6

Nurses
Agriculture

Question 7

What did the new roles of women during ww1 illustrate?

Answer 7

Their capability of carrying out traditionally male roles

Question 8

During ww1, what was there a legitimate debate about?

Answer 8

Women’s legal status

Question 9

By 1918, what percentage of women of working age were in employment?

Answer 9

75%

Question 10

How many German men were killed during ww1?

Answer 10

1.6 million

Question 11

Affect of lots of men dying during ww1 for women

Answer 11

Many women couldn’t find husbands as there were less men than women. Women formed significant part of population after ww1

Question 12

What was the role and status of women during pre ww1 Germany summed up by?

Answer 12

The German Civil Code of 1900

Question 13

What did the 1900 German Civil Code state?

Answer 13

By law:
-Women couldn’t vote
-Single women could study for a profession but could not take the exams to qualify and practice

Question 14

Legal status of married women before ww1 in Germany

Answer 14

Married women had no legal status. A man had to do any legal business on her behalf

Question 15

When were women granted the vote?

Answer 15

12th November 1918

Question 16

How did most political parties react to women being granted the vote?

Answer 16

Most parties supported it

Question 17

How many women were elected to Reichstag between 1919 and 1932?

Answer 17

112

Question 18

What did the Weimar Constitution state about women’s rights in the golden years?

Answer 18

Stated they had equal rights

Question 19

What remained in place during the golden years which shows that the Weimar Government’s attitudes towards women remained traditional?

Answer 19

German Civil Code

Question 20

What was rising for women during the golden years?

Answer 20

Female employment and job opportunities for women

Question 21

What became more accepted regarding employment during the golden years?

Answer 21

Single women in work

Question 22

What did government policy during the golden years state about jobs that women were carrying out after ww1?

Answer 22

They should return the jobs back to returning soldiers

Question 23

Percentage of working women in 1925 compared to pre ww1

Answer 23

36% in 1925
34% pre ww1

Question 24

Where married women expected to work during the golden years?

Answer 24

No

Question 25

What percentage of women were in poorly paid jobs in 1925?

Answer 25

50%

Question 26

How were women in work treated by men and trade unions during the golden years?

Answer 26

Men discriminated women in work
Trade unions remained male-dominated

Question 27

Behaviours of lots of women during the 1920s

Answer 27

Women let go of traditional female behaviours

Question 28

Examples of how women let go of traditional female behaviours from 1920s

Answer 28

Wore more revealing clothes
Had shorter hair
Smoked
Drank

Question 29

How did politicians and the media react to the new female image from the 1920s?

Answer 29

Opposed morality of it

Question 30

What type of discrimination did the ‘new women’ (women who let go of traditional behaviours) face during the golden years?

Answer 30

Wage and sexual discrimination

Question 31

What were ‘new women’ criticised for doing/not doing during the golden years?

Answer 31

Not planning for future
Being selfish
Causing societal downfall
Going against nature