Social Change Plans - Significance of Women

Question 1

Under Bismark in 1871-1918, what did the national civil code legalise and what aspects in life did men have authority over?

Answer 1

Legalised the lower status of women, and gave men authority over family, children, administrative and wealth etc

Question 2

By 1891 women’s welfare had improved. What did Bismark provide that benefitted women?

Answer 2

6 weeks of maternity leave
11 hour working day
Allowed more lunch time off on a Saturday to carry out domestic duties

Question 3

In 1885 who established a Society for the Protection of Women Working and how many members did it have?

Answer 3

Emma Ihrer

1000

Question 4

What did Clara Zetkin do on 19th March 1911?

Answer 4

She ran the Women’s section of SPD and started the first International Women’s Day. She was the first and only women elected to the General Commission of German Trade Unions in the 1890s

Question 4

What happened to the Society for the Protection of Women Working in 1886?

Answer 4

The Government banned it

Question 5

What did the Middle Class Union of German Feminist Organisation (BDF) formed in 1894 campaign for?

Answer 5

Equality in education and politics and to be allowed to organise their own finances

Question 6

From 1933 what did the Nazis introduce?

Answer 6

Policies that affected women - as all female working groups were banned from government employment

Question 7

Between 1933-1935 female secondary school teachers declined by what percentage?

Answer 7

15%

Question 8

Between 1933-1945 women were encouraged to have children - the “mother cross” was awarded to how many mothers?

Answer 8

8 = gold
6 = silver
4 = bronze

Question 9

What was the name of the state sponsored brothel and when was it introduced?

Answer 9

The Lesbenborn Programme in 1935

Question 10

By 1939, how much of the workforce was made up of women? And specifically in the clothing industry?

Answer 10

33% of the workforce but 66% in the clothing industry

Question 11

What was a positive outcome for women during WWII?

Answer 11

More work was available

Question 12

In 1943 how many women were conscripted to work and between what ages? But how many actually entered the workforce?

Answer 12

3 million women aged 17-45

Only 900,000 entered the workforce

Question 13

What did Zetkin organise in Berlin in 1915?

Answer 13

An international socialist women’s anti-war conference

Question 14

What did a shortage of male workers mean for women?

Answer 14

That they had to begin working in areas previously forbidden such as heavy industry like chemical, iron, steel and engineering

Question 15

What percentage of women made up the Weimar parliament in 1919 compared to in Britain?

Answer 15

9.6% Weimar parliament compared to only 2% in Britain and 1% in the House of Representatives

Question 16

How many members where there in the BDF in 1914 compared to during the 1920s?

Answer 16

It grew from 300,000 to 900,000 so trebled

Question 17

Why did Weimar women challenge family structure?

Answer 17

Because they were often urbanised, financially independent and single and represented a breakdown in German society

Question 18

What did the West German Basic Law of 1949 guarantee?

Answer 18

The legal equality of women but for many women’s roles were still traditional

Question 19

In 1980 in West Germany what was the percentage of women in the workforce? And why was this surprising?

Answer 19

39%

Only 6% above Nazi Germany and 2% above Weimar

Question 20

What percentage of women were students by 1960? How did this compare to Weimar and finally in 1980?

Answer 20

In 1960 = 30% were women
In Weimar = 20%
In 1980 = 37.9%

Question 21

What period did women equal men’s university applications? And what percentage were women by 1989?

Answer 21

Early 1980s

41%

Question 22

By 1989 what was the percentage of women in the following professions?
Hospital Staff / School Staff / Doctors / Headteachers / Uni Professors

Answer 22

Hospital Staff = 75%
School Staff = 50%
Doctors = 4%
Headteachers = 20%
Uni Professors = 5%