Reluctant Feminists in German Social Democracy, 1885-1917

by Jean H. Quataert

Examining the convergence of socialism and feminism in the German labor movement around the turn of the century, Jean Quataert probes the competing identities and loyalties of class and sex and the problems their adherents faced in reconciling the two. By focusing on the women's movement in particular, she expands our understanding of the German Social Democratic subculture and shows that socialist feminism was far more important than has been recognized heretofore.

Originally published in 1979.

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328 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 1979

About the author

Jean Hale Quataert is Distinguished Research Professor of History at Binghamton University, State University of New York.

Reviews

[Will · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quataert argues convincingly that socialist women in Imperial Germany sacrificed their feminism for their Socilaism, arguing that true equality could only be achieved once the existing social order had been dismantled. The SPD provided a supportive space away from the influence of bourgeois women, but did little to promote equality in either society or the party. For their part, the women called for protections and special rights before legislative equality. One lasting impression was the immense diversity of the aims and beliefs of the socialist women, aided through 8 detailed case studies.