Violence against women in the GDR
In order to be able to comprehensively describe the everyday life of women* in the GDR, one’s own very personal experiences are certainly not enough. “My experiences are different from yours – even if we discovered/experienced the world and ourselves in the same system, in the same family.” This is the case everywhere – and every form of historical GDR retrospective naturally includes stories from your own little piece of everyday life in the GDR. Particularly in the case of structural social contexts, there is always a need for statistical cross-sectional observation in differentiation and relativity – in order to be able to clearly name problems/abuses/injustice situations and share them in a change-oriented way. On the subject of “violence against women in the GDR” – a social injustice in the GDR that was not publicly addressed – statistical, reality-mapping research surveys were not possible under the socio-political conditions.
This was also reflected in the injustice-related topics emphasised by the autonomous GDR women*‘s groups in the 1980s – which at that time predominantly used the church as an umbrella for oppositional activities. The social issues driving the majority of activists* at the time were peace and the environment: Peace and the environment; for a smaller proportion it was same-sex lifestyles and feminist theology. There were some activists in Erfurt who actively campaigned against rape and violence against women. There were also women* in Leipzig who took an active stance against these violent acts of injustice. It was not until the end of the 1980s that “violence against women” was explicitly addressed publicly at two church congresses.
The Erfurt activists* went down in the history of opposition activists* in the GDR as “Autonomous Nettles” – the Leipzig activists* as “Women for Women” & founders of the I. Autonomous Women’s Shelter”.
The I. Autonomous Women’s Shelter
Politically committed women very quickly recognised the need to formulate women’s interests together and find ways to make them known to the public – and founded their own political platform on 22 November 1989. -> Fraueninitiative Leipzig
A church in the east of Leipzig became the first meeting place for women in the city. As a result of this meeting, various working groups were formed to deal with different areas of female existence in society.
In Frauenblätter No. 2
the editor in charge, D. S. wrote about this meeting on 22 November 1989
The 2nd info sheet will finally be published at Christmas time. As we only have limited possibilities for duplication, we cannot provide information faster and better at the moment. But everything should be better in 1990 … As promised, this time there is a brief description of the content of the working groups…
One of these working groups was:
Women in emergency situations
We want to create a contact point for women in emergency situations. By this we mean women who are exposed to violence, who have addiction problems or who are facing their old problems after an attempted suicide. We urgently need money, premises and staff. (G. E.)
History of the l. Autonomous Women’s Shelter Leipzig
December 1989
Public relations work via radio and press on the subject of “violence against women”. As the working group was small (only four women), a goal was agreed upon: to create a women’s shelter in Leipzig.
This was immediately followed by an application to the Leipzig City Planning Commission to make the former government guest house available for use as a women’s refuge.
January 1990
In January 1990, the Women’s Commission applied to the Leipzig Round Table for a building to be made available as a women’s refuge.
January 17, 1990
The first Leipzig Women’s Festival on 17 January 1990 was the initial spark for the topic: several new active women expanded the working group “Women in emergency situations”.
End of February 1990
Ten permanent positions for work in a women’s refuge were approved by the Round Table – despite the lack of a building and therefore not knowing what capacity the planned women’s refuge would have.
Submission of a draft resolution on the creation of a women’s refuge in Leipzig to the district parliament (via the PDS, Party of Democratic Socialism and via the DFD, Democratic Women’s Association of Germany)
March 1990
Working/networking meeting in Hanover with staff from the autonomous women’s shelter in Hanover and five protagonists from Women for Women in Leipzig.
April 02, 1990
Foundation of the association “Frauen für Frauen e.V.“
Internships for members of the organisation in the autonomous women’s shelters in Kassel and Hanover.
Summer 1990
The district administrative authority gave “Frauen für Frauen e.V.” a building to use rent-free. The building was not ideal (small, badly in need of renovation).
The then Ministry for Family, Youth and Sport granted the organisation start-up funding of DM 50.000 for 1990.
November 02, 1990
After months of preparation and furnishing work by members of the association in their spare time, the 1st Autonomous Women’s Shelter in Leipzig was opened. The centre had a capacity of 24 places for women and children – and was fully occupied after three days.
1991
Since 1991, the work of the 1st Autonomous Women’s Shelter in Leipzig has been financially secured through a budget item from the local authority, shortfall funding from the regional council, fines and donations.
Opening of a women’s counselling centre (outside the women’s shelter).
1992
Renting of a women’s shelter with an additional 5 places for women and children.
End of 1993
The city of Leipzig cuts two posts at the “Frauen für Frauen” association. All areas of work in the women’s shelter, counselling centre and shelter flat had to be secured with only six employees (3x full-time positions and 3x part-time positions | 30 weeks).
In this situation, the entire work of the “Frauen für Frauen” association was jeopardised by the city’s decision. Questions were asked about the non-transparent background, there was a lot of protest, hearings, reviews …
The “Women for Women” fought with all the means and forces at their disposal against “the impending end of the 1st Autonomous Women’s Shelter” in Leipzig.
And the history of the 1st Autonomous Women’s Shelter in Leipzig shows: Women for women won this fight.
