Vernissage in Haldensleben: Discover women's lives in divided Germany!

Vernissage in Haldensleben: Discover women's lives in divided Germany!

In the run-up to the 35th Day of German Unity on September 30, 2025 there will be an exciting one Vernissage The exhibition “Women in Divided Germany” will take place in the KulturFabrik Haldensleben. Organized by the equal opportunities officer of the Börde district, LaNA e.V. and the Alsteinklub, the celebration begins at 3:30 p.m. The evening includes an official opening, a lecture and a discussion with curator Clara Marz.

This exhibition aims to portray the realities of women's lives in the Federal Republic and the GDR during the 1970s and 1980s. On 20 posters, the differences and similarities in the everyday lives of women in both German states are discussed and common clichés about western and eastern women are questioned. A central aspect is the discussion about the pursuit of self-determination in a strongly male-dominated system, which presented different challenges for women in both parts of Germany.

A look into the past

Parallel to the opening in Haldensleben, the exhibition is also in Federal Archives can be seen in Leipzig from July 1st to December 31st, 2025. It is open Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Admission is free and the exhibition also addresses the realities of women's lives in both German states. The aim is to make the diverse experiences visible and to show similarities and differences in the realities of German-German life.

Discussions about feminism and equality gained momentum in the period after the fall of the Berlin Wall. How Deutschlandfunk culture reports, the 1990s were marked by the participation of the women's movement in the Central Round Table, where old and new political forces fought for influence. Women vehemently campaigned for social issues and women's political issues. However, hopes for equality often remained unfulfilled, not least due to political exclusion and difficulties in dealing with gender issues.

A departure into a new time

During this time, many women left the GDR, which further intensified the discussion about the challenges and the new role of women in society. The call for equality and more rights for men in childcare became loud. While some women took on the role of housewife, others discovered their new possibilities and demanded an active influence in shaping the future society.

The exhibition “Women in Divided Germany” not only draws attention to the past, but also offers a platform for discussions about how women can assert themselves in a changing society. For interested visitors, there is further information on the websites of the respective organizers: Contact the KulturFabrik Haldensleben via Ms. Katja Klommhaus on Tel.: 03904-7240 1301 or via email to egalstellung@landkreis-boerde.de and in the Federal Archives via email leipzig.stasimodellearchiv@bundesarchiv.de.