The History of Equal Rights in Germany: From the Vote to the Reform of Family Law
The history of equal rights in Germany has a symbolic starting date: November 12, 1918. On that day the Council of the People's Deputies published a proclamation that opened the way to the ballot box for women. From then on, the law changed in stages that built on one another. How did this path run from the right to vote to the rules of family life? What follows presents the most important events in chronological order.
Women's Suffrage in 1918 and 1919
At the end of November 1918, after the revolution, women in Germany received both the right to vote and the right to stand for election. So they could not only vote but also run for office. For the history of equal rights this was a starting point, since suffrage gave women a formal way to take part in lawmaking.
Women voted for the first time on January 19, 1919, in the election to the National Assembly. According to the literature, their turnout then was over 80 percent. That figure shows that women used the new right immediately and in large numbers.
The Basic Law of 1949 and Article 3
The next turning point came in 1949. In Article 3, the Basic Law established that men and women have equal rights. Elisabeth Selbert is regarded as the driving force behind this provision, and her campaigning is still linked to this part of the constitution today.
The constitutional provision alone did not yet change the individual laws, however. Family law had to be brought into line with the new principle. That process took several more years.
The Equal Rights Act of 1957
The answer to this problem was the Equal Rights Act. It was passed on June 18, 1957, and took effect on July 1, 1958. It was meant to bring family law in line with the principle of equal rights that had been anchored in the Basic Law earlier.
In this way the principle of 1949 gradually found its way into concrete rules on marriage and family. The change had long been awaited. It did not end the discussion, though, about how far equal rights should reach in everyday life.
The Reform of Marriage and Family Law in 1977
The 1977 reform of marriage and family law introduced the partnership principle in the Federal Republic. This was a significant step, because until then a wife's employment had been tied to her duties in marriage and family. The new approach rested on a partnership between spouses.
The reform shows that equal rights do not end with the right to vote. They also concern how the legislature describes roles in marriage and working life.
The Constitutional Amendment of 1994: A Mandate for the State
The last stage considered here falls on October 27, 1994. At that time a sentence was added to Article 3, paragraph 2, giving the state the task of promoting the actual enforcement of equal rights and removing disadvantages. The provision added to the earlier principle of equal rights a duty to put it into practice.
The difference is clear: the 1949 version laid down equal rights. The 1994 addition stated that the state should work toward their actual realization.
Summary
The history of equal rights in Germany unfolded in several steps: from suffrage in 1918, through anchoring in the Basic Law in 1949 and the act of 1957, to the reform of 1977 and the amendment of Article 3 in 1994. These stages affected different areas, from politics to family law. Together they sketch the changes over several decades.