Margrit Twellmann

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Margrit Twellmann , also Twellmann-Schepp, (* July 24, 1930 in Munich ; † March 30, 2013 in Gießen ) was a German scientist, lecturer and pioneer of German women's history research, even before dealing with the history of the organized women's movement of the 19th century. and early 20th century ... picked up speed .

Live and act

She saw the light of day as Margrit Schepp in Munich. After the early death of the father, the mother moved with her daughter to Giessen. In the latter city, Schepp graduated from high school in 1951 and married that same year. The marriage resulted in two children, Friedrich Wilhelm (who died early) and Beatrice. After the divorce, the single mother studied history, English and politics in Marburg. She completed her studies in 1961 with the scientific examination for secondary school service. The second state examination took place two years later. She then worked as a researcher at the seminar for academic policy at the Philipps University in Marburg , under the direction of Wolfgang Abendrothwho encouraged her to do a doctorate on the German women's movement. In 1967 Twellmann submitted her dissertation. Her title: The German Women's Movement. Its beginnings and first development 1843 - 1889 . The work appeared in 1972 together with an extensive volume of sources. Actually, Twellmann wanted to first examine the emancipation of women in politics and literature of the German liberal parties . The doctoral candidate decided on the above-mentioned paper for the following reasons:

But after looking at the relevant literature, the focus of the work was shifted from the liberal parties to the bourgeois women's movement that grew out of liberal ideas, since the liberals, caught in the conventional world of ideas, by no means appeared as advocates of the idea of ​​emancipation, but above all under pressure economic and social conditions were at most willing to make concessions. With a few exceptions, of their own accord, they paid limited attention to the bourgeois women's movement, and their attitude towards certain demands of the women's movement often differed from that of the conservatives or clericals only in a nuance in the formulation. In contrast to the proletarian women's movement, to which the comrades stood by (albeit often only reluctantly), the bourgeois women's movement was on its own; it alone was the bearer of all events on which the liberals on the other side in a row with the usual parties reacted - or failed to do so. - For these reasons, it was advisable to put the bourgeois women's movement at the center of consideration and to consider the attitude of the liberal parties as part of the 'environment' of the bourgeois women's movement .

After her doctorate, Twellmann gave up the position of assistant at the University of Marburg and went to school because she was looking for safe and orderly conditions . She taught (including English) until her retirement at the Aliceschule in Gießen, a vocational training center. A former student of Twellmann reported about her teacher:

Miss Dr. Twellmann was a person who approached the students with a lot of appreciation and enthusiasm for their subject. She was never arrogant and always very affectionate when she always addressed us personally in class with 'Miss' and 'Mister'. At the same time, she always seemed committed .

One of Twellmann's particular merits was the rediscovery of two important, but forgotten women who were prominent representatives of the radical women's movement until the Second World War and who were internationally known as pacifists: Lida Gustava Heymann and Dr. jur. Anita Augspurg , who both died in exile in Zurich in 1943 . About her intention to publish the memoirs of the two feminists, Twellmann wrote:

The present memoirs, in their compressed form, contribute significantly to closing a considerable knowledge and information gap in the area of ​​the radical bourgeois women's movement and the political activity of women in the 'International Women's League for Peace and Freedom' . Because to this day there are hardly any comprehensive treatises on the German bourgeois women's movement that even take into account the left 'radical' wing, let alone evaluate and appreciate it in its full meaning .

Twellmann's estate was transferred to the Archive of the German Women's Movement Foundation in Kassel.

Works

  • The German women's movement. Its beginnings and first development 1843 - 1889, Meisenheim am Glan 1972
  • The German women's movement. Your beginnings and first development. Sources 1843 - 1889, Meisenheim am Glan 1972
  • Experienced - seen. German women fight for freedom, justice and peace 1850-1940, Meisenheim am Glan 1972

literature

  • Sabine Hoffkamp: UNERHÖRT (e) consequences - impetus for women's history. An echo of the work of Dr. Margit Twellmann (* July 24, 1930 - † March 30, 2013), in: Ariadne. Forum for Women's and Gender History, May 2014 / Issue 65, pp. 16–21

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. a b Hoffkamp 2014, p. 16
  2. a b Twellmann 1972, o. P.
  3. a b Hoffkamp 2014, p. 20
  4. http://www.aliceschule-giessen.de/index.php?id=2
  5. Twellmann 1972, p. 5 f
  6. http://www.ida-dachverband.de/aktuelles/archiv-detail/article/nachlass-von-margrit-twellmann-in-kassel/