Lesson 8: How far did women’s lives change in Weimar

• What happened to many middle class and farmers due to reparations?

  They lost all their savings
• Why did the middle class and farmers dislike the Weimar government?

  They believed it supported the working class too much
• Who struggled the most among small business owners?

  Small business owners
• What was the impact of reparations on farmers' ability to buy machinery?

  Farmers were unable to buy new machinery
• What significant political change occurred for women in November 1918?

  • Women were allowed to vote
  • Women could stand for election
• What percentage of women voted in Weimar elections?

  90%
• How many women were elected into the Reichstag by 1932?

  122 women
• What did the Weimar government state about women's rights?

  Women had equal rights to men
• What was stated about marriage in the Weimar laws?

  Marriage was an equal partnership
• What professional opportunities were women allowed under Weimar law?

  Women could enter any profession equally
• Did societal attitudes change with the new laws for women?

  No, many remained traditional in beliefs
• What concerns did traditional parts of society have about women?

  Falling birth rates and rising divorce rates
• What did traditional Germans believe about women's roles?

  Women needed to be loyal wives
• How did advertising and film impact the perception of 'new women'?

  • Encouraged women to adopt new lifestyles
  • Made the idea of a new woman more accepted
• Who were more likely to be considered 'new women'?

  • Young, unmarried, working women
  • Women living in cities with disposable income
• What behaviors characterized 'new women' in society?

  They expressed their views and acted freely
• What was the employment rate of women by 1918?

  75% of women were in work
• What happened to women's employment after WW1?

  It dropped to 36% of women
• What were the positives and negatives of women's work during the Weimar Republic?

  Positives:

  • Part-time work available
  • More female doctors by 1932

  
  

  Negatives:

  • Women paid 30% less than men
  • Expected to quit work once married
• What high-status jobs were women still excluded from?

  Judges and similar positions
• What were the general attitudes towards women during the Weimar years?

  1. Women felt liberated but faced new expectations
  2. Some men accepted change, others resisted
  3. Women contributed to the economy, but men felt threatened