FASCISM/NAZISM AND IDEOLOGIES OF RACE

How were women's lives in Germany affected by fascism/Nazism and ideologies of race?

How were women's lives in Germany affected by fascism/Nazism and ideologies of race?

Introduction

Fascism and Nazism were two main political schools of thought during the earlier part of the 20th century, specifically localized around Hitler's Germany and Mussolini's Italy. Fascism and Nazism, though similar in many regards, have many aspects to them that make them different from one another. These primarily include each political ideology when it comes to society, economics, and gender issues. Furthermore, an outlook on the status of the state and nation makes Fascism and Nazism slightly different from one another (Bendersky, 2000, p. 17).

Women in Nazi Germany were to have a very specific role. Hitler was very clear about this. This role was that they should be good mothers bringing up children at home while their husbands worked. Outside of certain specialist fields, Hitler saw no reason why a woman should work. Education taught girls from the earliest of years that this was the lifestyle they should have.

Discussion

From their earliest years, girls were taught in their schools that all good German women married at a young age to a proper German and that the wife's task was to keep a decent home for her working husband and to have children.

One of the earliest laws passed by Hitler once he came to power in 1933 was the Law for the Encouragement of Marriage. This law stated that all newly married couples would get a government loan of 1000 marks which was about 9 month's average income. 800,000 newlyweds took up this offer. This loan was not to be simply paid back. The birth of one child meant that 25% of the loan did not have to be paid back. Two children ...