Actually, there is nothing more boring than statistics and numbers, especially for those who are only interested in high art, high culture, and particularly literature. - Well, at least for me! -
At least, that's what I thought until one day (a long time ago) I opened Elisabeth Friedrichs' encyclopedia about German-speaking women writers of the 18th and 19th centuries from 1981 and read the preface. In it, she described her research on over 4,000 women writers (page VII)!
At that time, it took me several weeks to come to terms with this fact because I had just obtained a master's degree in literature studies and maybe knew about 3 women writers from that period. In my naivety, I had assumed that there were hardly any women writers in those eras, which is why we only learned about male writers in our studies. Who questions the established literary history?
But to think that there were over 4,000 women writers! ... One must let that number form in their mind's eye: In my mind's eye, it initially produces rustling crinolines and tight corsets before finally revealing the carefully crafted quill pen that produced thousands and thousands of books with a woman's hand.
Although feminist and gender studies of the past 35-40 years have brought some women writers to light and redefined their significance for literary studies, this information has not become firmly established in the public consciousness. Even as a Ph.D. in literature studies, my experience is that the facts about the cultural achievements of women from past centuries rarely leave the ivory tower. - Why is that?
Whenever I mention my radio program to friends and acquaintances, it is met with great headshaking. - Women writers? 18th and 19th centuries? Who could have existed then? - Who today knows 2, 3, 4, or even 5 of these women? - Take a brief pause from reading and count for yourself who you know. - And? - Can you think of five? - No cheating!
Exploring the cultural achievements of women from past centuries will certainly take a long time. The question of why the literature of women was not transmitted revolves around complex social contexts. The dominance of a German-speaking cultural sphere that was shaped by patriarchy for centuries is at the center of reflection: It concerns the "value" of women, their "role" in patriarchal societies, and whether a "female narrative" was even desired - or is desired. The answer to this question was unequivocally negative until not so long ago, as the cultural identity of a German homeland [Vaterland] fared better without them. While the Restoration movement of monarchists after 1815, the subsequent imperialists, and even the German nationalist movements of the 19th century constructed a male-dominated national identity that was reflected in the established literary canon, a female voice in it became superfluous - and even unwanted.
Fortunately, we now live in new times with new ideas that make it possible to reshape a so-called literary canon. This literary heritage also includes the literature of women. - And if you like, I will tell you more about these wonderful historical women writers - together with my equally wonderful contemporary guest authors.
Just listen to me!
