Historical Contexts: Germany and the US
Exhibit Description
German and American women's rights movements had different historical
contexts, which affected their goals, tactics, and achievements.
Germany saw the women's rights movement emerge during a time of
political and social upheaval during the late 19th and early 20th
centuries. Following unification, women began demanding political
rights and greater economic opportunities. Although
Germany's unification process after 1871 was heavily dominated by
men and gave priority to the "Fatherland" theme and related male
issues,
such as military prowess, women became much better organized
themselves. Women were active participants in socialist and labor
movements throughout Germany, with which the women's movement was
closely associated.
Formal organizations for promoting women's rights grew in numbers
during the Wilhelmine period.
German feminists began to network with feminists from other countries,
and participated in the growth of international organizations. Their
goal was to achieve greater economic and political equality for women
while integrating women's concerns into broader socialist agenda.
In contrast to its German counterpart, women's rights activism in the
US began earlier, during the
abolitionist movements
of the mid-19th century.
Suffrage
was an integral component of women's rights activism here and women
fought long and hard for this right to vote. Women in the US
participated in labor movements like unions but their individual
rights movements did not overlap as closely with socialism as did
their movements elsewhere in Europe.
Overall, historical circumstances shaped the goals and tactics of
women's rights movements in both Germany and the US differently;
Germany saw its women's movement align more closely with socialist and
labor movements while its US counterpart focused more on individual
liberation and personal rights.
