Gender Roles In Nazi Germany

Nazi Germany made an effort to focus on gender roles within society. The Nazis were preparing to go to war. Prior to the Nazi regime, men and women were perceived to be equal to each other. Women could become educated and work. Frowned upon by the Nazis, prostitution was widespread. The Nazis held the belief that all men were meant to become soldiers. They emphasized the importance of men to the well-being of the German society, by being homosocial, meaning a men’s society. The Nazis made an emphasis on fraternity and advocating the mentality that one should die for the other. This caused a complete separation between male and female roles. It was believed that in order to be a good soldier, a man must have good sex; therefore, prostitution
became regulated by the Nazis. After the birth rate had drastically dropped, the Nazis wanted to find every way possible to promote motherhood. The Nazis popularized the idea that German women are the mothers of the land. The Nazis recognized the importance art had on the society, which caused them to differentiate what was good art. To the Nazis, good art focused on male bodies, other pieces emphasized women being viewed as good mothers and homemakers. The relationship between the good art and the ideologies the Nazi party promoted became apparent to scholars.