Fraueninitiative Leipzig
Despite the socio-economic independence of women “despite 40 years of socialism”, the traditional stereotypical gender images were also deeply rooted in the majority population of the GDR – and were also present in opposition groups. Women’s political views and demands were often neglected, forgotten, not listened to, belittled… ignored. The civil rights activists in the New Forum had not yet fully grasped that the era of “patriarchal exaltation had long been a thing of the past”. But several of the activists* in the New Forum did.
On November 22, 1989, approximately 80 women assembled in the Protestant Trinitatiskirche Reudnitz Leipzig in response to an invitation extended by women from the New Forum and other individuals, including Sophia Bickhardt, Jana Gohrisch, Dietlind Starke, and Cornelia Matzke, who had meticulously prepared for the event. The objective was to deliberate upon the draft programme of the Leipzig Women’s Initiative in the New Forum, with a view to establishing structures within the New Forum that are capable of adequately addressing the socio-political relevance of women’s issues and demands in a gender-democratic manner. This signifies that the prioritization of issues should be at least equal, given that women constitute over half of the population.
Further details regarding the establishment of the Leipzig Women’s Initiative will be follow here soon…
However, such significant structural alterations necessitate, above all, a deliberate confrontation with the prevailing circumstances, a conscious acknowledgment of the prevailing realities, and, naturally, a willingness to engage in a further process of transformation. However, this willing+ness was absent within the New Forum.
The logical decision of the Leipzig Women’s Initiative:
On January 10, 1990, the consequences, advantages and disadvantages of a Leipzig women’s initiative autonomous from the New Forum were discussed at one of the plenary meetings – and a vote was taken to leave the NF was voted on. Of the 110 women who attended and were entitled to vote, 101 voted in favor of an independent women’s initiative, eight for continued work in the NF; plus one abstention.
As a consequence of this resolution, the Fraueninitiative Leipzig (FIL) was now in a position to pursue and address women’s political demands in a consistent and efficient manner. The FIL operated in accordance with the principles of grassroots democracy, with all decisions made collectively in monthly plenary meetings and disseminated via the FIL information medium, “Frauenblätter,” which commenced publication in December 1989.
As the inaugural free elections to the GDR Volkskammer were scheduled for March 1990, the women activists of 89 (not solely in Leipzig) were compelled to establish frameworks to facilitate a women’s and electoral political public sphere.
Frauenblätter No. 2
Information from the Fraueninitiative in New Forum Leipzig | Date: 22.12.89
The responsible editor Dietlind Starke:
The second information sheet is scheduled for release during the Christmas period. Due to the limited availability of resources for reproduction, we are unable to provide a more expedient and comprehensive service at this time. However, we anticipate improvements in 1990 and beyond.
1. As previously indicated, this edition includes a concise overview of the working groups.
Mother/child working group
We would like to encourage contact between mothers with small children and create contact points in our residential areas. On the one hand, we want to create the opportunity to pass on information (and experiences) relating to birth, breastfeeding, nutrition, questions about the child and life with an infant in general. On the other hand, we want to offer mothers and their infants regular meetings in a group.
U. Z.
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.
Women and the law group
We want to influence legislation. The legal equality of women is expressed in a triple burden. This must come to an end. There are also other laws that need to be changed or clarified that affect women’s rights. On the other hand, we would like to pass on the legal knowledge we have gained to women who need help in this regard or provide them with assistance in asserting their interests.
A. P.
Language and conversational structures
Language is conceptual thinking and forms our consciousness. We are looking for possible alternatives to German as a “men’s language”. We also look at conversational structures. How is it, for example, that male participants talk more often and for longer than the women present?
V. S.
Working group on female culture
Based on the assumption that there is a specific female attitude to life and the world, this will be examined (and put up for discussion) on the basis of female art, culture and lifestyle. What does “indescribably feminine” mean here? Where does the “typical woman” begin and is there a “female view” of the world?
B. J.
AG Feminism
The working group deals with theoretical and practical experiences of women’s movements in Western countries (FRG, UK, USA) and discusses concepts such as feminism, patriarchy etc. and their application to conditions in the GDR.
C. G.
Local Politics Group
We organize the participation of the women’s initiative at the round table and in the citizens’ committee. We also collect all information about the democratic (and undemocratic) changes in our city in order to influence them if necessary. We are urgently looking for women who are confident enough to represent the interests of women at the Round Table and via the Citizens’ Committee. The main aim is to analyze and monitor upcoming changes in the area of subsidy policy, reduction of bureaucracy and economic restructuring in terms of their impact on women. (We are particularly dependent on the cooperation of economists, psychologists, sociologists, etc.).
D. S.
The contact addresses can be found in Frauenblätter No. 1
2. At the plenary meeting we want to decide whether we will remain an initiative of the New Forum or register as an independent organization.
Some thoughts from the Coordination Committee:
First of all, I would like to provide some information. According to the membership list of our women’s initiative, the majority of women are not members of the New Forum. Discussions have revealed that many women cannot identify with the policies of the New Forum and therefore reject the initiative’s classification. Concrete experiences of working with the New Forum and the example of the solution
of a women’s group in Erfurt have strengthened our conviction that we can better realize our interests and concerns as an independent association. As an association, we have a more direct influence on government bodies, for example the Round Table. The situation is similar when it comes to the allocation of premises. As a working group of the NF, we are dependent on its distribution plan.
Another argument for independence: on December 3, an umbrella organization of autonomous women’s initiatives was founded in the Berlin Volksbühne, which delegates two representatives to the government’s Round Table and presents itself as an association that does justice to our specifics and is an alternative to the DFD.
B. G.
3. Reports
Foundation of an independent women’s association
If you don’t fight back, you go to the stove” was the motto of the founding of the association on December 3 in the crowded Volksbühne. It is intended to coordinate autonomous women’s initiatives. A coordination council, consisting of representatives from all independent groups, is currently working on the structure and program. Leipzig will be represented alternately by S. B., D. S. and J. G.. If you have suggestions for the structure, please send them to Sophia until January 5th (also suggestions for the program). Statute and program have to be worked out within 3 months, then a founding congress will take place. We will send the manifesto presented by Ina Merkel to each working group. Unfortunately, we do not have enough copies to send one to every woman.
…
I wish everyone a peaceful and relaxing Christmas and lots of strength for the New Year. I think we can use it.
D. S.
From the draft program of the Fraueninitiative Leipzig
“Women’s issues, what’s the point, there are more important things” and ‘what, you’re an emancipationist, against men and all that?’ and ‘look, it’s biologically based’. … The range of accusations offers no colors that women could really paint themselves. That’s why women should simply ignore them.”
“The bow and arrow are left to the Amazons, the myth of men, we use other, contemporary means: the word and the deed. Our word should be contentious. But we do not wish to fight for power.”
“Our deeds should open sealed doors, enter islands and fathom things lost in the mists of time. But we want to raise our hands invitingly, build bridges, set lights.”
“We women look at a here and now that has grown out of a yesterday in which we women were often enough forbidden to speak in public.”
“We want to learn to find this word for ourselves and for others. That’s why we have to find out what we have become, how we are, and communicate with each other.”
“So first of all, we need to search, talk, help and take small steps towards transformation together.”
„The basic conditions are that this society must be peace-loving, anti-fascist and democratically organized.“
„Anti-fascist means that there is no room for excessive nationalism in our thinking, that we treat other cultures with respect and also enjoy the diversity of ideas in our own country.“
„The right to make decisions on behalf of many must be linked to competence and moral integrity.“
„Every woman and every man is competent thanks to a sense of responsibility arising from concern and understanding.“
„Material independence is an important prerequisite for achieving self-sufficiency.“
„The aim must be to harmonize work processes and their results with the premises of ecology, health maintenance and individual lifestyle.“
„Just as we demand publicity, i.e. free expression of opinion in the media (press, radio, television), for ecological, economic and system-theoretical issues, we must give space to women-specific problem presentations.“
On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of October 9, 1989, the Socio-Cultural Center Frauenkultur Leipzig is holding an art competition on “Women 1989 and Women Artists 2019” in Leipzig. Original archive texts from 1989/1990 were transformed into a contemporary reference by female artists in 2019 using artistic means. At the same time, the historical dimension of the activities of women in 1989 was artistically placed at the center – and “authentic and very touching moments of women in 1989” were created.
Work and artist in order from left to right
Solidarität | Kamplade, Hille 2019
Wurzel | Bakir, Mirette 2019
Wort und Tat | Ragy Enayat, Mona 2019