
Sisters in Arms
Militant Feminisms in the Federal Republic of Germany since 1968
Katharina Karcher(Author)
Berghahn Books (Publisher)
1st Edition
Published on 1. May 2017
Book
Hardback
178 pages
978-1-78533-534-1 (ISBN)
Description
Few figures in modern German history are as central to the public memory of radical protest than Ulrike Meinhof, but she was only the most prominent of the countless German women-and militant male feminists-who supported and joined in revolutionary actions from the 1960s onward. Sisters in Arms gives a bracing account of how feminist ideas were enacted by West German leftist organizations from the infamous Red Army Faction to less well-known groups such as the Red Zora. It analyzes their confrontational and violent tactics in challenging the abortion ban, opposing violence against women, and campaigning for solidarity with Third World women workers. Though these groups often diverged ideologically and tactically, they all demonstrated the potency of militant feminism within postwar protest movements.
Reviews / Votes
"Karcher's study of militant feminism encourages scholars to re-think the history of feminism, and reflect on how changes to feminist politics and practice have shaped what is considered feminist, and the writing of feminism, more broadly." * English Historical Review"Karcher shows that although a number of feminists were anxious to be equated with terrorists and therefore publicly denounced the use of violence, militancy did indeed play a significant role in the New Women's movement of the 1970s and 1980s. The material she has accessed to prove her point is impressive, and her historical overview is rich and concise." * German Studies Review
"Karcher's monograph offers an excellent overview over radical forms of action and groups within the west German women's movement. Not only did she uncover a lot of material, but she also carried out numerous interviews." * querelles-net
"A recurring issue throughout the book is the way in which violence and militancy have been written out of the history of feminism, in favour of gendered narratives of peaceful protest. Bringing these two elements together, Karcher's study of militant feminism encourages scholars to re-think the history of feminism, and reflect on how changes to feminist politics and practice have shaped what is considered feminist, and the writing of feminism, more broadly." * The English Historical Review
"Karcher offers a refreshing perspective on the history of the New Women's Movement in West Germany and its relationship to militancy in this long-overdue study. Any future scholarship on feminist activism in Germany will need to consider this provocative and revealing book." * Patricia Melzer, Temple University
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Oxford
United Kingdom
Target group
College/higher education
Product notice
Library binding
Illustrations
Bibliography; Index; 8 Illustrations
Dimensions
Height: 235 mm
Width: 157 mm
Thickness: 14 mm
Weight
420 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-78533-534-1 (9781785335341)
DOI
10.3167/9781785335341
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
05/2017
1st Edition
Berghahn Books
€22.49
Available for download

E-Book
05/2017
1st Edition
Berghahn Books
€22.49
Available for download
Person
Katharina Karcher is Lecturer in German in the Department of Modern Languages at the University of Birmingham. Her research interests include feminist theory, European women's movements, and the histories of protest, extremism and violence in the Federal Republic of Germany.
Content
Acknowledgements
Note on Translations
List of Figures
List of Abbreviations
Introduction
Chapter 1. The New Women's Movement in West Germany
Chapter 2. Terrorism, Feminism and the Politics of Representation
Chapter 3. Militant Feminist Protest against the Abortion Ban
Chapter 4. Women Fighting Back: Feminist Responses to Violence against Women
Chapter 5. Sisters in Arms? Militant Feminist Protest and Transnational Solidarity
Conclusion
Bibliography
Index
Note on Translations
List of Figures
List of Abbreviations
Introduction
Chapter 1. The New Women's Movement in West Germany
Chapter 2. Terrorism, Feminism and the Politics of Representation
Chapter 3. Militant Feminist Protest against the Abortion Ban
Chapter 4. Women Fighting Back: Feminist Responses to Violence against Women
Chapter 5. Sisters in Arms? Militant Feminist Protest and Transnational Solidarity
Conclusion
Bibliography
Index