Female Chemists and the Scientific and Technical Revolution. Promotion of Women in the Chemical Industry of the German Democratic Republic
Female Chemists and the Scientific and Technical Revolution. Promotion of Women in the Chemical Industry of the German Democratic Republic

Summary/Abstract: In the GDR, socialist planning authorities made targeted efforts to steer women towards scientific and technical professions. Using the chemical industry as a case study, this paper examines how these state efforts were put into practice at plants and combines. Through women’s advancement plans, female employees were to be motivated – albeit with varying intensity – to pursue chemistry degrees and assume leadership positions. The article inves- tigates the challenges that arose in this process and assesses how effectively female chemists could actually be guided. Prominent issues included the dual burden on women from employment and household responsibilities, as well as gendered prejudices against female scientists and engineers.

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