Changes in the position of women

• When did the government give women the vote and the right to stand for elections in Germany?

  In November 1918
• What was the turnout of women voters in the Weimar elections?

  90%
• What percentage of Reichstag members were female in 1932?


  Almost 10%
• What does Article 109 of the new constitution state about women's rights?

  It states that women had equal rights with men
• What percentage of women were in paid work by 1918?

  75%
• How did the percentage of women in work change under the Weimar Republic?

  Only 36% of women were in work under the Weimar Republic
• What discrepancy existed in pay between men and women doing the same job?

  Women were paid 33% less than men
• How many female judges were there?

  36 female judges
• How many female doctors were there in 1932?

  5,000 female doctors
• In which sectors did more women find employment during the Weimar Republic?

  More women worked in retail or service sectors
• What characteristics defined the 'new women' in cities?

  'New women' wore short hair, more make-up, jewellery, and revealing clothes
• How did the lifestyle of young, unmarried, working women change during this period?

  They became more financially and socially independent
• What was the birth rate in 1913?

  128 live births per 1,000 women
• What was the birth rate in 1925?

  80 live births per 1,000 women
• What was the divorce rate in 1913?

  27 divorces/year per 1,000 people
• What was the divorce rate in the 1920s?

  60 divorces/year per 1,000 people
• How did women feel about the changes in their roles during this period?

  Women felt liberated, but not all liked the changes
• What was the conservative perspective on the role of women in society during this time?

  Conservatives believed women should concentrate on being mothers and wives
• In November 1918 the government gave women the vote and the right to stand for elections. The turnout of women voters was 90% in the Weimar elections. In 1932, almost 10% of Reichstag members were female.
• Article 109 of the new constitution stated that women had equal rights with men
• More women went into paid work during the war. By 1918, 75% of women were in work – often in jobs previously performed by men. Only 36% of women were in work under the Weimar Republic.
• Women were not treated equally in workplaces despite Article 109. In jobs where men and women did the same job, women were paid 33% less than men.
• Few women entered high-status professions (36 female judges), but more liberal professions (e.g. education, medicine) had a rise. There were 5,000 female doctors in 1932. Lots of women worked in retail or service.
• Some young, unmarried, working women in cities became more financial and socially independent; becoming ‘new women’ who wore short hair; more make-up, jewellery, and revealing clothes. They smoked and drank more and went out unaccompanied. Some were less interested in marriage and families and took advantage of liberal sexual attitudes.
• The birth rate was falling. In 1913 there were 128 live births per 1,000 women. By 1925 there were 80 live births per 1,000 women.
• The divorce rate was rising. In 1913 there 27 divorces/year per 1,000 people. In the 1920s there were 60/year per 1,000 people.
• As a consequence women felt liberated but not all liked the changes.
• It was often thought that ‘new women’ threatened the role of men in society; conservatives and traditionalists thought that women should concentrate on being mothers and wives.