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Of mothers and daughters: women on the move between history and the future
Discover Jena: Insight into the cultural heritage of the GDR, women's lives and cross-generational stories.
Of mothers and daughters: women on the move between history and the future
Today, October 3, 2025, there are exciting cultural offerings on the program in Thuringia that provide insights into the past of the GDR and the lives of women at that time. Particularly noteworthy is the play “Guten Morgen, Zukunft”, which is based on the cult book “Guten Morgen, du Schöne” by Maxie Wander. In this volume of portraits, which was published in 1977 and became a cult book in the GDR, women talk about their everyday lives, their longings and hopes. MDR reports that ...
The creators of the piece spoke to women in Thuringia to record their stories. From the answers they developed three figures that represent the “daughters”. They meet the “mothers”, who are adapted characters from Wander’s book. This gives rise to an intergenerational dialogue about the effects of the division of Germany on the socialization of women. The topics range from social and private inheritance to how to deal with these inheritances.
Intergenerational conversations
A central element of the piece is the confrontation between the younger and older generations. The “daughters” question the “mothers,” revealing interesting differences and similarities in their experiences and perspectives. A small highlight of the performances is home-baked cake, which makes the visit a special experience.
In the context of the “Women's Memorial” project, which was launched in the 1990s, we see a broader perspective on the life stories of women from the GDR. The digital German women's archive notes that ... The international project, which aims at the subjective reconstruction of life stories, deals with the memories of women from three generations who lived under socialism until 1990. Many of these women reported feeling alienated by Western representations of their stories and sought their own narratives.
Women in socialism
The realities of life for women in the GDR were complex. The historical data from hdg.de show that ... Although the SED regime propagated equality between men and women, women often faced major challenges. In 1960, 62% of working-age women were employed, which was more than in West Germany. But the reality was that they often received lower wages than men and experienced multiple burdens from work, household and family.
The SED regime's program envisaged measures for equality, but in practice many plans were implemented only hesitantly. Even though International Women's Day was celebrated, men's understanding of their roles remained largely unaffected. The topic and the current cultural projects therefore not only represent a retrospective, but also important conversations about the reality of women in the GDR and beyond.
The play “Good Morning, Future” and the controversy surrounding it invite you to engage with the silent and loud voices of women whose stories are still relevant. So if you're looking for a stimulating afternoon, you should definitely plan a visit!