The First Viennese Democratic Women's Association: A Pivotal Moment in 1848 History

This entry details the founding of the 'Erste Wiener demokratische Frauenverein' (First Viennese Democratic Women's Association) in 1848, Austria's first political women's association. It highlights the context of the 1848 revolutions, the association's goals for political equality, education, and support for lower-class women, and its key actions, including a petition to the Reichstag.

The page examines the establishment of the 'Erste Wiener demokratische Frauenverein' (First Viennese Democratic Women's Association) in 1848, a pivotal moment marking the beginning of the women's movement in Austria. Following the "Pillersdorf Constitution" which allowed for citizens' associations but barred women from political ones, and in the wake of a violent suppression of a women's demonstration, 150 to 400 women convened on August 28, 1848, to found this association. Although men were present and initially denied entry, they eventually stormed the meeting. The association's stated goals included advocating for women's political equality, supporting the democratic-revolutionary movement, ensuring access to education for all women and girls, and assisting women from lower social strata. Karoline von Perin served as its president, with men allowed as supporting members but without voting rights. During the revolutionary period, the association actively submitted political petitions, organized demonstrations, held discussion meetings, and distributed leaflets. A significant action was their petition, signed by 1,000 people, presented to the Reichstag on October 17, 1848, urging the call-up of the Landsturm to prevent military intervention against revolutionaries and to safeguard the revolution's reforms. However, the Reichstag members reacted with indignation to the political positioning of women, and the petition was rejected without debate. The association was forced to cease its activities after only two months due to the defeat of the revolution in Vienna at the end of October 1848, yet it remains historically significant as the initial catalyst for the Austrian women's movement.

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