March 1980 Newsletter

WOMEN IN GERMAN

Number 22                           March 8, 1980

Membership/Subscription fee: $7.00 ($3.00 if unemployed or student)

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On this date in 1908, 30,000 women garment workers walked off their jobs and on to the streets of New York to demand a minimum wage, an end to discrimina­tory labor practices and the establishment of child care facilities. Two years later, Clara Zetkin, a German Socialist leader, inspired by the militant fight­ing spirit of these women, proposed to the Second International Socialist Conference that March 8 be declared International Women’s Day. Since many of the social patterns that precipitated the creation of IWD still exist, this day is more than a nostalgic celebration. It symbolizes the need for women to unite.for equal rights for all women in all countries.

Dear WIG Members:

On this timely occasion of International Women's Day, March 8, we send you special greetings and at the same time wish you a year of activity that will improve our work and our lives! As we take note of International Women’s Day we are concurrently aware of talk focusing on military registration/conscription

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of women in the U.S.A. as well as in the F.R.G. Not only does this issue seem of great concern to us as teachers and students in German but also as activists/ concerned women. More specifically, F.R.G. Defense Minister Apel and the Bundegwehrverband have recently suggested that women be made liable for military service, even though such a measure would run counter to Article 12.3 of the " F.R.G. constitution. The reason most often given is the probable shortage of approximately 200,000 recruits by the end of this decade, owing supposedly to the Pillenknick, or to women having taken the pill.

Those who have spoken in favor of this proposal have Included business lobbying groups who argue it would constitute a ready solution to the growing problem of unemployment among women. These voices have been joined in support by Alice Schwarzer, editor of Emma. She maintains women should have equal oppor­tunity in this formerly exclusively male area of activity as well, although she herself would refuse to be drafted. While there have been some women in the F.R.G. favoring military conscription of women, others have spoken out against it, Including a group of women from unions, the arts, professions and sciences. They maintain military service would only serve to militarize society and further­more question whether emancipation means learning to do everything men have always done, including ordering, obeying, killing, dying. Generally pacifist in response, these women view emancipation of women within the context of peace, disarmament and detente. Margot Schroeder, guest at our next WIG conference, reflects in this issue in a similar, oppositional manner in her poem that we print below.

We hope this thumbnail sketch of the issue and its ramifications in the F.R.G. women's movement will provide an interesting addition to your discussions here in the U.S. If you're interested in hearing more on the discussion in the F.R.G., refer to Emma, October 1979, Nr. 10 and November, 1979, Nr. 11 and to Deutsche Volkszeitung, Nr. 32, August 9, 1979, and Nr. 6, February 7, 1980. If you know of other responses or further information, please write us so that we can all receive a more complete picture of the current debate.

OUTREACH

The following idea was contributed by Naomi Stephan who has tried it at her university with considerable success. She suggests that each of us xerox our current copy of WIG and place it wherever your other German language magazines are displayed, in the German office, in the library or reading room. This way, both students and other staff members can easily be introduced to WIG with very little financial outlay from any one individual.

Margot Schroeder
Kriegsdienstverweigerung

Nur nicht die Flinte
ins Korn werfen
nein
das Gewehr im Anschlag
die Kornfelder
verbrennen.

Ich
die Gefreite
Margot Schroeder
nie Uber diesen Dienstgrad
hinausgekommen
soll schon morgen
gleichberechtigt
im Gleichschritt
marschieren.

Frauenbewegung
eine militärische Truppe
gehorsam
angepaßt
treu bis in den Tod.

Ich
aufgestellt
in Reih und Glied
soll auf Befehl
eure Abzugshähne
bedienen?

Räumt endlich die
Vogelscheuchen Brüderlichkeit
von euren Vaterländern.
Ich will eure Schwester sein
aber keine Lazarettschwester
aber kein Engel der Gefangenen
und nicht
in ewiger Kameradschaft
euer Flintenweib.

Ich möchte auf der Macht
pfeifen
wie auf einer Flöte
damit ihr Ratten
das Tanzen lernt
damit die Disziplin
im Fremdwörterlexikon vergilbt.
Ihr habt das Mutterglück
erfunden
und bedeutungsgleich
das Wort
Kanonenfutter.
Ihr habt die Neutronenbombe
erfunden
und [illegible]
das Wort
Unmensch.

Glaubt ihr
ich werde freiwillig
eurer Religion
beitreten?
Ich vernichte
meine Tochter nicht
für eine bessere Mutterwelt.
Ich kreuzige
meinen Sohn nicht
für die Versöhnung
im Untergang.

Ich schlage nicht zu
solange
mein Herz
schlägt.

Ilse Evans                      
Foreign Languages & Literature
Mass. Institue of Technology
Cambridge, MA 02139

a) SESSION I: German Women Writera Prior to 1800
Please submit abstracts fot pàpera (2-3 pages) by. above-mentioned deadline to:

Gabriele Strauch [redacted] 
and
Julie Prandi [redacted]

Participants and contributions are invited for the following sessions.
Please send abstracts to the coordinators whose names are listed below:

DEADLINE TOR SUBMISSION OF PRESENTATIONS: JUNE 1, 1980.

1) The Forms of Our Bodies, coordinated by:

Bonnie Beckett                      
Illinois Wesleyan University
[redacted]
Bloomington, IL 61701

Jill McDonald
[redacted]

Die Plakate der sechziger und siebziger Jahre, u.a. die der Internationalen Frauentage, zeigen die aktuellen Themen der Auseinandersetzung um Gleichberech­tigung.

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"Die Schrlften der modernen Frauepbewegung," Evelyn Torton Beck and Patricia Russian, in Neues Handbuch der Literaturwissenschaft: Literatur nach 1945 II, Vol. 22, ed. by J. Hermand. Akademische Verlagsgesellschaft Athenaion, 1979, pp. 357-386.

This essay provides an overview of the writings of the contemporary women's movement in the United States and Europe (with particular emphasis on West Germany). It highlights the impact fdadhiat thinking has had on the production of literature, the development of feminist literary theory, criticism, scholar­ship, and the teaching of literature.Much attention is given to literature by and about minorities, particularlyAmerican-Jewish, black, and lesbian writers. Bibliography appended (up to 1976) when essay was first written.    

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Karin Huffzky. Wer muß hier lachen? Das Frauenbild im Männerwitz. Eine Streitschrift.

Witz ist Teil der Kultur. Witze, die von Frauen handeln, auch. Frauen als Witzobjekt werden in unserer Gesellschaft ausnahmslos frauenfeindlich dargestellt. Das stellt die Hamburger Journalistin Karin Huffzky als Hauptergebnis ihrer Streitschrift "Wer muß heir lachen? Das Frauenbild im Männerwitz" fest.

Systematisch suchte upd sammelte die Autorin umfangreiches Material. Sie. verwendete Interviewtelle, analysierte Wort- und Bildwitze, auch persönliche Erfahrungen spielten eine Rolle. Ein schwieriges Thema, dessen Veröffentlichung hier Neuland betritt und in Form und Inhalt auch persönlichen Mut beweist.

Ergebnis ist eine vielseitige Zusammenstellung, die wirklich alle Ausgeburten herrschender Weiblichkeitsideologie, bürgerlicher Doppelmoral und reaktionärer Frauenleitbilder beleuchtet. Erstaunlich und erschreckend, in welchem Ausmaße pich gesellschaftliche Vorurteilsstrukturen im Witz wiederfinden, daß Lösungs­möglichkeiten von Konflikten nur auf Kosten der Frauen angeboten werden, wie der Witz als "populäres Kulturprodukt" ständig alltägliche Frauenfeindlichkeit demonstriert und widerspiegelt.

Da gibt es Witze mit Pointen gegen die berufstätige Frau, über die Fran als Konkurrentin von. Frauen—vornehmlich älteren Geschlechtsgenossinnen, wo Mädchen > physisch wie geistig prinzipiell als unfertige Menschen dargestellt werden.

Thema mit breitem Raum ln dieser Sammlung ist die Reduzierung von Frauen auf ihren Körper, die Hervorhebung der Frau als Sexualobjekt; ein wichtiges anderes:

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Gewalt gegen Frauen, die "witzig ist, denn Aggression ist Männertugend". Am meisten stieß Karin Huffzky bei ihrer Materialzu«ammenstellüng auf die sogennanten "Ehe" witze, wo am deutlichsten konservative Rollenklischees verklärt, verteidigt und immer wieder erneuert werden. "Die Ehefrau als Strafe" oder such der phantasievolle Mord an ihr sind ständig wiederkehrende Themen.

Ebenso wurden Sprache und Sprachgebrauch von Karin Huffzky analysiert. Die "Vatersprache" z. B. dient der "Abwertung der Mutter." Sie entdeckte bei dieser Systematik auch, was niemals Gegenstand von "Frauen" witzen ist: z. B. die "Angst des Sohnes vor dem allmächtigen Vater". Ein Fazit der Autorin ist, daB vieles dafür spricht, "daß es von Frauen erfundene Witze als anerkanntes Kulturprodukt nicht gibt.” (32) Grund: Es fehlt ihnen die entsprechende Öffentlichkeit. "Alle Witze, die von Frauen handeln, sind...antiemanzipatorisch. Ihre politische Bedeutung liegt u. a. darin, daB sie Menschenbilder entwerfen, welche die Verständigung, besonders zwischen Männern und Frauen, verhindern.
Sie trennen die Männer von den Frauen und sie isolieren die Frauen voneinander... Die selbstbewußte Frau läßt der etablierte Witz nicht zu."

From: Deutsche Volkszeitung                       
Dorlies Pollmann

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Brinker-Gabler, Gisela (Ed.), Deutsche Dichterinnen vom 16. Jahrhundert bis zur Gegenwart: Gedichte und Lebensläufe. Frankfurt/Main: Fischer Taschenbuch Verlag (1978). 430 pp. DM 9.80

Brinker-Gabler's anthology of women poets from the sixteenth century to the present is an important book since she has ediscovered undeservedly fotgotten or neglected poets and has selected poems [ilegible[ thematic variety. She gives more space to unfamiliar writers whose works are not really accessible than to familiar authors, and for this reason women poets of the twentieth century, particularly those writing after World War II, are treated more briefly. Besides selecting poems with such traditional "women's" themes as religion, love and domestic matters, Brinker-Gabler emphasizes poems which go beyond these traditional boundaries and deal, for example, with political and social questions, with women's anger about injustices and their lack of rights in society.

In her fine and extensive introduction, Brinker-Gabler traces the development of women's poetry in Germany from the Middle Ages to the present. Particularly enlightening is her discussion of the difficulties faced by women writers in a patriarchal society. She stresses how societal expectations of women's roles, women's lack of education and their lack of literary contacts all Inhibited , women's writing. She discusses anti-feminist literature and quotes from lead­ing male authors, showing that women writers, for the most part, were not taken seriously. Against this background, she traces how women struggled to write and to support themselves by their writing. It is one of the best essays I have read on the development of women writers in Germany and it also throws light on the situation of women writers in other countries. For each of the sixty authors (presented chronologically) Brinker-Gabler provides short biographies which give useful insights into the women's life and works. The bibliography lists extensive material for further study.

From: The German Quarterly (November 1979)
Jennifer E. Michaels

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We would like to bring to your attention a recent West German film sure to be of interest to feminists: Das zweite Erwachen der Christa Klages. Directed by Margarethe von Trotta, it relates the unforgettable story of a daycare worker who robs a bank In order to save the center from bankruptcy. On the run from the police, she seeks refuge first with a Lutheran minister who is horrified when he learns of what she has done. She then turns to a childhood friend who is now married to a Germanmilitary officer. Through her contact with Christa, this friend sees the shortcomings of her marriage and work as a cosmetician. She helps Christa flee to Portugal and herself joins her there later. The two work together in a Portuguese coop but are eventually expelled because they are suspected of Lesbianism. They return to Germany, and Christa is eventually caught by the police--only to he free by a surprise ending.

The film is available for the horrendous rental price of $350 from New Line Cinema, [redacted]

ANNOUNCEMENT 1

Seeking: Historian of Modern Germany, Northwestern University, Assistant Professor, regular-line position, beginning September 1980.

We are looking for a scholar specializing in the histoy of 16th, 19th or 20th century Germany, and will consider applicants in all fields of German history—social, political, economic, diplomatie, intellectual, etc. Candidates applying for. the position should have a completed draft of their dissertation or one able to provide evidence of strong teaching potential. We are conducting our search according to Affirmative Action guidelines, and -are especially interested in hearing about promising minority and female historians in the field. Since we are contemplating a junior-level appointment, it would be especially helpful for us to know of female graduate students in this field who have just completed, or are in the process of completing, the writing of their dissertations.

Sarah C. Maga, Assistant Professor and Chair of Search Committee, Department of History, [redacted] Northwestern University, College of Arts and Sciences, Evanston, IL 60201

ANNOUNCMENT 2

We received from the Department of Health, Education and Welfare, Office of Education, the following announcement concerning Opportunities abroad for teachers in the academic year 1981-82:

The Office of Education sponsors teacher exchange programs and summer seminars abroad under The Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961. (cont’d.)

Teacher exchange positions are available for all elementary and secondary school teachers, college instructors and as countries: Canada, Denmark, France, West Germany, New Zealand, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

Summer Seminars include programs for elementary and secondary.teachers, college instructions and assistant professors of German and for instructors and professors of German cultural studies. Eligibility requirements: U.S. citizenship, a bachelor’s degree, three years of teaching experience for teacher exchange positions and two years experience for seminars. Applicants must be currently employed. Brochures and application forms for the academic year. 1981 82 are available in August 1980. Application deadline is November 1, 1980. Address requests to: Teacher Exchange Section, Division of International Education, U.S. Office of Education, Washington, D.C. 20202.

MEDIA WATCH ETC……

In the spirit of continuing the struggle women are waging against media misogyny and abuse, we’d like to call everyone's attention to some recent books and movies that promote violence against women and sexual minorities.

United Artists has recently released two films that portray a violent and psychotic view of Lesbian and gay life. "Windows" features a psychotic lesbian who hires a man to rape her secret love. Her goal is to manipulate the victim into having an affair with her after arranging the ultimate in male violence against her. "Cruising" is about a man who stabs gay men to death while having sex with them. Almost every character who cruises is brutally murders to that the first justifies [unclear] the victim.

Norton has recently published a book by George Stade entitled Confessions of a Lady-Killer. Victor Grant’s confessions are featured in the novel, which revolves around Victor’s mental explosion when his wife, Samantha, leaves him for the wife of his best friend, Jude, a leading feminist theoretician. In an effort to get Samantha back, Victor plots to murder the entire staff of the feminist magazine, Ms. Chief, where Samantha and Jude work. We are spared no detail of his career as mass murderer, and his mental and physical escapades result in a display of pornographical violence against women.

It is important to express our strong disapproval against this kind of propaganda by taking time to write letters of protest to Norton, United Artists, land local theaters showing these films.

On the West German scene, watch for this:

Das zynische Wörterbuch. Ein Alphabeth harter Wahrheiten, zugemutet von Jörg Drews & Co., Diogenes-Verlag, 6,80 DM.

"Die Frau ist ein menschliches Wesen, das sich anzieht, schwatzt und sich wieder auszieht", sagt Voltaire. Der chinesische Volksmund befand, "ein großer Mann ist ein öffentliches Unglück". Der Aphorist Lichtenberg gab den frauenfeindlichen Vorschlag zum besten, "alle neugeborenen Mädchen zu ersäuffen".

Solche und andere zynische gute und böse Sprüche über Gott, Welt und die Menschen hat Jörg Drews gesammelt. Sie drücken die ärgerlichen, gemeinen, aber auch witzi­gen Vorurteile früheren und gegenwärtigen Denkens aus. Übrigens meistens das der Männer.

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WIG CONFERENCE

The 1980 WIG Workshop will be held this year on October 3-5, 1980, again at the Siena Center in Racine, Wisconsin, Hildegard Me1strand, Johanna Moore and Beth Weckaueller will be coordinating the physical arrangements, housing and transportation, with Jeanette Clausen and Ric Johnson serving as general program coordinators. Exact costs are not yet available, but we can give you the following information:

- Approximate cost will be $35.00-$40.00, including all meals and lodging. As voted by the membership at last year's conference, we will charge on a sliding scale, with a lower fee assessed for the unemployed.

- Limited child care facilities will be available, if needed, with related costs to be absorbed by all conference participants. Renny Harrigan will be coordinating child care arrangements, and it will be essential for her to know well in advance the number and ages of children needing care. If you anticipate bringing a child (or children), contact her as soon as possible with the pertinent information.

- A natural foods option will be available, with a small surcharge assessed to conference participants wanting this option. Jeanette and Ric will be coordinating this, but we will include an option box on the conference registration form.

- As soon as exact costs can be determined, we will be sending out conference registration forms either in aspccielmailing or in an early Fall newsletter. You can expect to receive the form in August or early September. But in the meantime don't forget:

. . . . notify Renny Harrigan as soon as you can about your child care needs!

. . , . make your plane reservations early. If you book well in advance, you may be able to get a sireable discount!

. . . . contact Johanna or Beth if you have any other questions, or if you will not be around in August/September and want to make an early reservation!

CONTACT ADDRESSES

Johanna Moore
UW-Milwaukee German Dept.
[redacted] Milw. WI 53201
Telephone: [redacted]

Beth Weckmueller
UW-Milwaukee DARR
[redacted] Milw. WI 53201
Telephone: [redacted]

No renewal notices will be sent.

Read your label and renew immediately when numbers match.

SUBSCRIPTIONS/MEMBERSHIP

We held firm as long as we could, BUT, the rising costs of everything make it impossible for us to continue to produce Women in German for $5.00. There­fore, we are raising the fee to$7.00; $3.00 for students and unemployed. Send your subscription to Women in German, Department of German, 818 Van Hise Hall, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53707.

Enclosed you will find my check for: (Please check appropirate boxes)

New Renewal

$7.00 for one year
$12.00 for two years                                              -------------------------------------------------------      $3.00 for one year
$5.00 for two years     
-------------------------------------------------------      $15 or more for supporting membership

NAME                                                         

ADDRESS ________ _________________

Please check if applicable: Change of address __________________________________________

This newsletter was prepared by Evelyn Torton Beck, Christa Hildebrand, Sara Markham, Biddy Martin, Mary Rhiel, James Steakley, and Gabriele Strauch.