German Association of Female Citizens

The General German Women's Association (ADF ) was the first women's association in Germany and was founded on October 18, 1865 by Louise Otto-Peters and Auguste Schmidt in Leipzig.

After 1918, the club expanded its tasks on general political women's work and called since German citizens association.

History of establishment

The ADF was at a women's conference on 16 - 18th October founded in Leipzig in 1865. Because the conference took place during the anniversary of the Battle of the Nations, she was ridiculed by the contemporary press as the " Leipziger woman battle". The invitation to the conference came from the Leipzig Women's Education Association, which was founded in the same year, among others, by Louise Otto-Peters and Auguste Schmidt. The participants came mainly from Saxony, but also women from other parts of the German were represented. Among the men occasionally present was August Bebel.

Goals and Achievements

One of the main aims of the organization was to improve educational opportunities for women and to promote their professional activity. Women from the bourgeoisie at that time were open only the professions governess, teacher, partner and possibly homework. They were also not admitted to higher educational institutions, high school and university education were denied. The ADF demanded the right to work and the establishment of industrial and commercial schools for girls and equal pay for equal work. Other topics discussed were the workers and maternity protection and the demand for women's suffrage and legal equality. To this end, the ADF taught at the revision of the Civil Code, a petition to the Reichstag. These efforts, however, remained unsuccessful. In addition, the ADF made ​​important work in the organization of the German women's movement.

Club structure and membership

When the club was founded Louise Otto-Peters took over the presidency. Your deputy was Auguste Schmidt.

Accession were eligible adult women. Minors could be admitted as listeners without voting rights. Men could not become full members, they had only a consultative vote, giving the club earned the reproach of men hostility. The philosopher Hermann von Leonhard was made ​​an honorary member.

As information organ of the founding members of the club magazine has already been decided in 1865 New trains.

The German citizens - association is a member of the Federation of German women / lesbian archives, libraries and documentation centers ida