Alice Schwarzer
Encyclopedia
Alice Schwarzer is the most prominent contemporary German
feminist. She is founder and publisher of the German
feminist journal EMMA
.
she spent her childhood with her grandparents. In 1969 she started working as a journalist.
From 1970 to 1974 she worked as a freelancer for different media in Paris
. At the same time she studied psychology
and sociology
, amongst others lectured by Michel Foucault
. She was one of the founders of the Feminist Movement in Paris (Mouvement de Liberation des femmes, MLF) and also spread their ideas to Germany.
In 1971 she raised public attention for the first time with her project "Frauen gegen den § 218" (Women against Paragraph 218, which was the German statute that made abortion
illegal).
In autumn 1971 she released her first book of the same title. She contributed substantially to the abortion debate in Germany, resulting in legalization in 1974. (See Abortion in Germany
.)
One of her best known books is Der kleine Unterschied und seine großen Folgen (The little difference and its huge consequences), which was released in 1975 and made her famous beyond the borders of Germany. It was translated into 11 languages. Since its release, Schwarzer is considered as Germany's best known, but also most controversial contemporary feminist. She is a second-wave feminist
representing concepts of feminist equality, similar to Simone de Beauvoir
.
One of her goals was the realization of economic self-sufficiency for women. She argued against the law which required married women to obtain permission from their husbands before beginning paid work outside the home. This provision was removed in 1976.
In January 1977 the first issue of her journal EMMA was published. The next years she concentrated on the work for her journal, serving as chief editor and publisher.
With her PorNo campaign, started in 1987, she advocated the banning of pornography
in Germany, arguing that pornography violates the dignity of women, constitutes a form of medial violence against them, and contributes to misogyny and physical violence against women. The ongoing campaign has not met with much success.
From 1992 to 1993 she was host of the TV show Zeil um Zehn on German TV channel Hessischer Rundfunk
. With her frequent appearances in German TV talk shows she has become an institution on German television.
When her journal EMMA changed to bimonthly release in 1993, she continued to write an increasing number of books, among them one about Petra Kelly
and Gert Bastian
, and biographies of Romy Schneider
and Marion Dönhoff
. In total she has released 16 books as a writer, and 15 as publisher.
She campaigned against the law of 2002 that improved the legal situation of prostitutes and fully legalized brothels. She views prostitution as violence against women and favors laws like those in Sweden
, where the sale of sexual services is legal but their purchase is not. (See also: Prostitution in Germany
.)
In recent years, she has been highly critical of political Islamism
and the position of women in Islam; she favors prohibitions against women in schools or other public settings wearing the Islamic headscarf, which she considers a symbol of oppression. She warns of a creeping Islamization of Europe, leading to an erosion of human rights and especially women's rights.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
feminist. She is founder and publisher of the German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
feminist journal EMMA
EMMA (journal)
EMMA is a German feminist magazine. Its print edition is published quarterly.The first issue of EMMA was published on January 26, 1977 with a circulation of about 200,000. Founder of the magazine was Alice Schwarzer who is still publisher and editor-in-chief...
.
Biography and positions
As the daughter of a single motherSingle parent
Single parent is a term that is mostly used to suggest that one parent has most of the day to day responsibilities in the raising of the child or children, which would categorize them as the dominant caregiver...
she spent her childhood with her grandparents. In 1969 she started working as a journalist.
From 1970 to 1974 she worked as a freelancer for different media in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. At the same time she studied psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
and sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
, amongst others lectured by Michel Foucault
Michel Foucault
Michel Foucault , born Paul-Michel Foucault , was a French philosopher, social theorist and historian of ideas...
. She was one of the founders of the Feminist Movement in Paris (Mouvement de Liberation des femmes, MLF) and also spread their ideas to Germany.
In 1971 she raised public attention for the first time with her project "Frauen gegen den § 218" (Women against Paragraph 218, which was the German statute that made abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
illegal).
In autumn 1971 she released her first book of the same title. She contributed substantially to the abortion debate in Germany, resulting in legalization in 1974. (See Abortion in Germany
Abortion in Germany
Abortion in Germany is technically permitted in the first trimester upon condition of mandatory counseling and a waiting period, and in rare exceptional cases afterwards.-History:...
.)
One of her best known books is Der kleine Unterschied und seine großen Folgen (The little difference and its huge consequences), which was released in 1975 and made her famous beyond the borders of Germany. It was translated into 11 languages. Since its release, Schwarzer is considered as Germany's best known, but also most controversial contemporary feminist. She is a second-wave feminist
Second-wave feminism
The Feminist Movement, or the Women's Liberation Movement in the United States refers to a period of feminist activity which began during the early 1960s and lasted through the early 1990s....
representing concepts of feminist equality, similar to Simone de Beauvoir
Simone de Beauvoir
Simone-Ernestine-Lucie-Marie Bertrand de Beauvoir, often shortened to Simone de Beauvoir , was a French existentialist philosopher, public intellectual, and social theorist. She wrote novels, essays, biographies, an autobiography in several volumes, and monographs on philosophy, politics, and...
.
One of her goals was the realization of economic self-sufficiency for women. She argued against the law which required married women to obtain permission from their husbands before beginning paid work outside the home. This provision was removed in 1976.
In January 1977 the first issue of her journal EMMA was published. The next years she concentrated on the work for her journal, serving as chief editor and publisher.
With her PorNo campaign, started in 1987, she advocated the banning of pornography
Pornography
Pornography or porn is the explicit portrayal of sexual subject matter for the purposes of sexual arousal and erotic satisfaction.Pornography may use any of a variety of media, ranging from books, magazines, postcards, photos, sculpture, drawing, painting, animation, sound recording, film, video,...
in Germany, arguing that pornography violates the dignity of women, constitutes a form of medial violence against them, and contributes to misogyny and physical violence against women. The ongoing campaign has not met with much success.
From 1992 to 1993 she was host of the TV show Zeil um Zehn on German TV channel Hessischer Rundfunk
Hessischer Rundfunk
Hessischer Rundfunk is the public broadcaster for the German state of Hesse. The main offices of HR are in Frankfurt am Main. HR is a member of the ARD.- Studios :...
. With her frequent appearances in German TV talk shows she has become an institution on German television.
When her journal EMMA changed to bimonthly release in 1993, she continued to write an increasing number of books, among them one about Petra Kelly
Petra Kelly
Petra Karin Kelly was a German politician and activist. She was instrumental in founding the German Green Party, the first Green party to rise to prominence worldwide.- Early life :...
and Gert Bastian
Gert Bastian
Gert Bastian was a German military officer and politician with the German Green Party.Born in Munich, Bastian volunteered the Wehrmacht at the age of nineteen. In World War II he served on the Eastern Front being wounded by a bullet in the right arm and in the head by a grenade fragment. He was...
, and biographies of Romy Schneider
Romy Schneider
Romy Schneider was an Austrian-born German film actress who also held French citizenship.-Early life:Schneider was born Rosemarie Magdalena Albach in Nazi-era Vienna, six months after the Anschluss, into a family of actors that included her paternal grandmother Rosa Albach-Retty, her Austrian...
and Marion Dönhoff
Marion Dönhoff
Marion Hedda Ilse Gräfin von Dönhoff was a German journalist who participated in the resistance against Hitler's National Socialists with Helmuth James Graf von Moltke, Peter Yorck von Wartenburg, and Claus Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg. After the war, she became one of the leading German...
. In total she has released 16 books as a writer, and 15 as publisher.
She campaigned against the law of 2002 that improved the legal situation of prostitutes and fully legalized brothels. She views prostitution as violence against women and favors laws like those in Sweden
Prostitution in Sweden
The laws on prostitution in Sweden make it illegal to buy sexual services, but not to sell them. Pimping, procuring and operating a brothel are also illegal...
, where the sale of sexual services is legal but their purchase is not. (See also: Prostitution in Germany
Prostitution in Germany
Prostitution in Germany is legal, and so are brothels. In 2002, the government changed the law in an effort to improve the legal situation of prostitutes. However, the social stigmatization of prostitutes persists and many prostitutes continue to lead a double life...
.)
In recent years, she has been highly critical of political Islamism
Islamism
Islamism also , lit., "Political Islam" is set of ideologies holding that Islam is not only a religion but also a political system. Islamism is a controversial term, and definitions of it sometimes vary...
and the position of women in Islam; she favors prohibitions against women in schools or other public settings wearing the Islamic headscarf, which she considers a symbol of oppression. She warns of a creeping Islamization of Europe, leading to an erosion of human rights and especially women's rights.
Awards
- In 1996, she received the German "BundesverdienstkreuzBundesverdienstkreuzThe Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany is the only general state decoration of the Federal Republic of Germany. It has existed since 7 September 1951, and between 3,000 and 5,200 awards are given every year across all classes...
am Bande" (Cross of Merit on ribbon), and in 2005, the "Bundesverdienstkreuz 1. Klasse" (Cross of Merit, First class). The Cross of Merit is the only general state decoration of the Federal Republic of Germany. - In 2004 she received the "Danubius Prize" for "her passionate fight for the rights of women".
- In December 2004 she was made Knight of the French Legion of HonorLégion d'honneurThe Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
. - On January 15, 2005 she received the Staatspreis of the German federal stateStates of GermanyGermany is made up of sixteen which are partly sovereign constituent states of the Federal Republic of Germany. Land literally translates as "country", and constitutionally speaking, they are constituent countries...
of North Rhine-WestphaliaNorth Rhine-WestphaliaNorth Rhine-Westphalia is the most populous state of Germany, with four of the country's ten largest cities. The state was formed in 1946 as a merger of the northern Rhineland and Westphalia, both formerly part of Prussia. Its capital is Düsseldorf. The state is currently run by a coalition of the...
. - In 2007 she received the Else Mayer Foundation award.
External links
- Official homepage (in German)