Secrets of the Nobility: Women and Family in the 19th Century Revealed!

Secrets of the Nobility: Women and Family in the 19th Century Revealed!

On Wednesday, October 29th, the Gotha Research Library in the Hall of Mirrors at Friedenstein Castle will be the venue for an exciting lecture. As part of the annual exhibition "ADEL MACHT STATE. The Gotha Court Calendar from 1763 to 1944", the Friends of the Research Library Gotha e.V. cordially invites all interested parties. Admission is free - a good reason to find out more about the multifaceted world of the nobility! The topic “Women, Men and Families: Terms and Ideas of Nobility in the 19th Century” will be presented by Prof. Dr. Monika Wienfort from the University of Potsdam.

In her lecture, Prof. Wienfort, who holds the professorship for Brandenburg-Prussian history, examines how women and men in the 19th century described themselves as noble and what ideas they had about it. The focus is particularly on the aspect of the family, on which the nobility as a social group is based. Listeners can look forward to exciting insights into the experiences of the nobles of that time Oscar am Freitag reports that Wienfort's expertise in legal and constitutional history, with a special focus on British and Prussian history, will be worthwhile.

A look at gender issues

Research on noble women has become increasingly important in recent years. For example, Kubrova's book, based on her 2009 dissertation, deals with the discriminatory position of noble women in the education system and society in the 19th century. A gap in previous research is highlighted, which was often one-sided, “unquestioningly male” Querelles Net. Kubrova examines the question of a “good life” from moral philosophy and analyzes autobiographical writings by noble women as retrospective constructions of meaning. Her work is based on 36 autobiographies that provide interesting insights into the topics of family, marriage and work.

The author questions the role of the family as a social space and the options for action that arise for women. What is interesting is that gender polarity was often less crucial for noble women as long as they were able to remain recognized in society. Revealing results show that towards the end of the 19th century, single aristocrats had the opportunity to work professionally without risking their social status.

Growing relevance of aristocratic research

The growing interest in aristocratic research is reflected not only in the publication of books, but also in numerous conferences and exhibitions. Before the 1990s, this topic received much less attention, even though the nobility plays an important role in German history. The focus of current research is on the cultural values ​​of the nobility, the relationship to the region and nation as well as the social status in modern society H-Soz-Kult.

Part of the discussion also refers to the homogeneity and difference within the nobility in terms of national identity. These different research strands aim to draw a clearer picture of the role and identity of the nobility and to shed light on their social impact. There are also critical voices who note that the values ​​of the nobility are undergoing dynamic change that is not static.

For everyone who is interested in the exciting connection between nobility and gender issues, the lecture by Prof. Dr. Wienfort is an excellent opportunity to further your education and discover new perspectives. A subsequent reception for the circle of friends rounds off the evening and invites you to further discussions.