Alice Schwarzer et le féminisme allemand
Comparing Germany to other western countries, many academics and activists claim that the feminist “gains” are not as important in Germany. This does not imply that the feminists are not active. This master thesis is about the most notorious German feminist: Alice Schwarzer. Through her life story, her feminist thought, her campaigns and claims, this master thesis aims to shed the light on the evolution of second wave feminism in Western Germany in the second part of the 20th century.   This master thesis portrays feminists’ fights in their socio-political context. The study will be completed with the help of a case study in order to portray the history of German feminism and capture the nature of some feminists’ “gains” in 20th century Germany. This study also allows us to shed the light on the disparities between feminists such as Schwarzer and third wave feminists throughout recent debates in Germany.  This master thesis is divided in two major parts. First, the social heritage of Schwarzer will be drawn. Second, the feminist thought of Schwarzer will be presented in two themes: the “socialization of sexuality” and the “public character of the private sphere”. To do so, this master thesis is based on Alice Schwarzer’s writings: Her first and most important book The Small Difference and its Big Consequences (1975), the magazine EMMA she founded in 1977.
Alice Schwarzer