Exhausting Work

Germany's firstdemocracy, theWeimar Republic,affected everyaspect of life,particularly forwomen, who weregranted such rightsas the right tovote and equal payfor equal work.These rapidadvancementscombined with astrong economy andan increasinginterest in popularculture, such asmovies and sports,made possible themedia creation ofthe New Woman.This book discussesfour major works ofthe period--twodramas by ErnstToller and twonovels by IrmgardKeun--in terms oftheir portrayal ofgender, both oftraditionalmasculinity andfemininity and ofnewer attitudesbrought out in theperiod of the NeueSachlichkeit. Theanalysis willexplore what madethe New Woman «new»and the reasons whyshe was never areality for mostGerman women. Thisbook should beuseful to thoseinterested inGerman history,literature, andwomen's studies.

Autorentext

Allison Smith, MA: Studied German and Sociology at the University of Arizona and Bowling Green State University.

Klappentext

Germany''s first democracy, the Weimar Republic, affected every aspect of life, particularly for women, who were granted such rights as the right to vote and equal pay for equal work. These rapid advancements combined with a strong economy and an increasing interest in popular culture, such as movies and sports, made possible the media creation of the New Woman. This book discusses four major works of the period--two dramas by Ernst Toller and two novels by Irmgard Keun--in terms of their portrayal of gender, both of traditional masculinity and femininity and of newer attitudes brought out in the period of the Neue Sachlichkeit. The analysis will explore what made the New Woman new and the reasons why she was never a reality for most German women. This book should be useful to those interested in German history, literature, and women''s studies.