THE FORGOTTEN CONTROVERSY: EVIDENCE FOR A WORLD OF ALTERNATIVE VALUES
THE FORGOTTEN CONTROVERSY: EVIDENCE FOR A WORLD OF ALTERNATIVE VALUES

Summary/Abstract: The paper discuss the forgotten controversy from the history of sociological theory between two eminent sociologists, Marianne Weber and Georg Simmel, about the position of women in German society (and educational system) in early 20th century. The authors offer new interpretation of the controversy embeded into societal context of: (a) German society in late 19th and early 20th century, (b) first wave feminisim in Germany, and (c) individual habitus of its protagonists. The interpretation shows that inspite of the fact that Weber and Simmel confront their opinions about Simmel’s hypothesis that women should create a different, independent and alternative cultural system (subjective culture) as a counterpoint to dominant male objective culture, they both made an attempt to conteptualize reality that will be constructed on alternative value systems. However, these alter realities were limited by the academic, educational and political experiences of their creators, as well as their gender and class belonging.

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