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Chapter 6 - Social and Cultural developments in Germany, Youth…
Chapter 6 - Social and Cultural developments in Germany
Women in Weimar
Before 1924
1919 – women held 10% of the seats in the Reichstag
Most of the electorate were female because all the men were fighting in the war.
After the war ended in 1918, many were required to give back their jobs to men as part of the ‘demobilisation’ so that ex-soldiers could find employment.
1919- Article 109 – same fundamental rights and duties as men including the right to vote and hold office as well as the right to equal pay
Changes in the golden age
For women
'the new woman' - free, independent, sexually liberated.
2 million Germans were killed during the war - women were unable to follow the conventional path of marriage and child rearing security
1929: 'the modern woman refuses to lead the life of a lady and a housewife, preferring to depart from the ordained path and go her own way' - Elsa Hermann
Against women
HOWEVER the extent of change should not be exaggerated - not all German citizens approved of these changes - not even all women
The League of German Women - was the largest female group with 900,00 members - they promoted traditional values and maternal responsibilities - this was echoed by conservative parties and the church
Civil Code of 1896 remained in force - in a marriage the husband had the right to decide on all matters concerning family life, including weather his wife should undertake payed employment
the 'new woman' was more of a cultivated myth as opposed to a social reality
Myths and Reality
Employment
Sexual Freedom
Politics and public life
Young People
"Culture wars" - control over the behaviour and development over the German youth
Wiemar was turning increasingly to a life of crime and anti-social behaviour
Children who didn't attend Gymnasium schools were supposed to leave school at the age of 14 and begin an apprenticeship or employment
1925 - 26: 17% of the unemployed were aged 14 - 21
Benefits system and day centres aimed to help youths acquire skills needed to find work but this never compensated for the lack of employment
Working class Germans living in big cities joined gangs
Youth groups
Church youth groups
Protestants
in both religions the tasks of the youth groups were to promote religious observance
Catholics
Political youth groups
Wandervogel
Nationalistic, romanticised Germanys past
Hated industrialisation/ big cities - time spent hiking swimming
'Wandering birds' set up in 1896 by a berlin school teacher for middle-class boys
Rejected middle class social conventions - practiced nudism and vegetarianism
Youth unemployment:
The 1900 - 1910 baby boom were looking for employment when employers were reducing workforce