Introduction

Abstract

The introduction outlines the main themes and arguments of Feminist Transformations. It situates the book's findings within existing literatures on feminism and the history of divided Germany. It provides an historical and historiographical overview of feminism in Germany, showing both how the history of feminism has thus far been written and how women's rights and gender roles have featured in Germany in the long-twentieth century. Additionally, it reflects on contemporary studies on processes of co-optation, feminist mainstreaming, and social change. In doing so, it lays out the central claim of the book that feminist domestic violence activism has been one of the most successful campaigns of the women's movement in Germany, but one that has come at a price. It further asserts the importance of including East Germany in the history and historiography of feminism in Germany.