The Digital Museum of Women's Rights

Student protest in Munster.

"More democracy", "Create peace with fewer weapons", "Equal rights for men and women" - such slogans are on the flags and banners of the "1968 movement" in West Germany.

Photo Credit

Helke Sander was allowed to speak - after being heard with a tomato.

During a speech at the 23rd delegates' conference of the Socialist German Student Union (SDS) on September 13, 1968, Helke Sander presented the concept of the Action Council and denounced the discrimination against women in the SDS. But the panel, which was made up exclusively of men, wanted to move on to other topics without discussing the lecture. The heavily pregnant Romance studies student Sigrid Rüger angrily threw tomatoes onto the podium.

This tomato throw - and its reception in the media - brought the problem of women into the public eye. As a result, the first women's councils and other women's groups were founded.

Source

Vessels of Genealogies.

Exhibit by Firelei Baez features drawings of dark women with cascades of hair, the ghostly descendants of African, Latina and Caribbean great-great-grandmothers and goddesses.

This is what intersectional feminist art looks like, Chicago Tribune.

Professor Kimberlé Crenshaw coined the term “intersectionality” in a 1989 academic paper.

Nolwen Cifuentes, Vox

Intersectionality: Germany and the US

Exhibit Description

Intersectionality refers to the interconnectivity among social identities such as race, gender, sexuality, class and ability and how these interact to produce unique experiences of oppression or privilege for particular populations. While traditional feminist ideologies strive for gender equality alone, intersectional feminism acknowledges these intersectionalities on women's experiences as they intersect with those from other identities - an approach known as intersectional feminism which recognizes this impact while still prioritizing gender equality as its goal.

Germany and the US each possess distinct histories and cultural contexts which influence their intersectal feminist movements in various ways. Feminism emerged out of Germany's divided history when women's rights movements protested authoritarianism from East German government and patriarchy from the West. German intersectional feminist movements have focused more heavily on issues related to social justice for other marginalized groups such as refugees or LGBTQ+ individuals than on issues surrounding gender politics alone.

United States intersectional feminism has been heavily shaped by its longstanding legacy of racial inequality, with women of color playing an instrumental role in shaping its development. Intersectional feminist theory developed here has more often focused on systemic racism as opposed to exploring how race intersects with gender for unique experiences of oppression among women of color.

Germany has made impressive strides toward intersectionality and gender equality through policy and legislation, such as parental leave and affordable childcare that foster women's participation in the workforce. Women make up over 35% of seats in its Bundestag (federal parliament). Yet despite these advances there remain issues related to pay inequality and violence against marginalized groups like LGBTQ+ individuals or refugees that must be addressed immediately.

Intersectional feminism has played an essential role in pushing policies and legislation which address intersectionality of experiences among women of color and other marginalized groups in the US, yet progress remains slow with significant disparities still persisting when it comes to pay, healthcare coverage and accessing reproductive services, which disproportionately afflict members from marginalized groups. Furthermore, representation for women remains low - only 27% of seats in Congress hold by female legislators!

In conclusion, intersectionality plays an integral part in shaping feminist movements and advocating for gender equality. Though Germany and the US have made strides toward intersectional feminism, significant obstacles still need to be tackled such as disparate treatment of marginalized groups within these nations. Feminist movements must continue prioritizing intersectionality for greater equity and justice for all.