People in Golden Age

People in Golden Age

1. Women

   • Didn't want to be housewife anymore
   • Elsa Hermann free, independent, sexually liberated
   • Equal vote, education, pay and civil service appointments
   • Didn't follow traditional marriage and children route due to the deaths in WWI
   • Not all women approved of this change
   • Civil Code 1896 meant man decided family life which meant he decided if woman could get paid employment
   • Leauge of German Women (BDF) 900,000 women who liked traditional women
     • Church supported
   • 'New woman' more of a myth

2. Young People

   • Breaking free of the constraints of family, school and religion
     • Crime and anti-social behaviour
   • Highly selective Gymnasium schools
     • If did not get in, then they'd leave at 14 and look for apprenticeships or employment
   • Rise of unemployment after1924
   • In 1925-26, 17% of unemployed were 14-21
     • Baby boom between 1900-10 resulting in more want more employment
   • Benefit system helped young people
   • Working class in big cities joined gangs
   • Wandervogel set up by schools to cater for young people
   • Day centres created to gain skills

3. Jews

   • 80% of jews in Germany (400,000)
     • Well educated
   • Many felt more German than Jewish
     • But kept Jewish tradition
   • Achieved a lot under Weimar Republic
   • 1% of total population
   • Dominated politics, press, business, banking, unis, publishing, books, newpapers, music, thetre and cinema