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  • Essay / Sport and physical activity in the Weimar Republic

    The Weimar Republic was a German government between 1919 and 1933. During the period of the Weimar Republic, it shows the consequences of political failure but also cultural growth which remains present today. Germany struggled after World War I, where families experienced high mortality rates, a period of food shortages, and harsh working conditions. The war resulted in strikes aimed at improving working conditions, but later turned into a political strike aimed at ending the war. Besides politics, culture began to shed light on the effects of war, where topics such as sex and sexuality became highly publicized topics and physical activity also became a topic that sparked discussion. public interest. At this time, Berlin had a growing fitness community that was dedicated to fitness, although Germany's focus on fitness during the Weimar period, this also sparked interest in today's society today. Fitness is an ever-growing lifestyle and Berlin has been exposed to many key concepts that significantly influence what fitness is today. Women in the Weimar Republic gained recognition in the fitness world, as fitness was primarily comprised of men. Women had the opportunity to draw attention to equality in physical activity between men and women. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original Essay During the era of the Weimar Republic, access to physical activity was limited, but individuals also only needed to find a hobby that they enjoyed. Due to the emphasis on physical activity in Berlin, this allowed Germany to evolve in defining the importance of women's presence in the fitness community, sports during the Republic era of Weimar and the impact of physical activity on society. Without the concept of physical activity, this would have caused a cultural divide during this period due to the obstacles caused by the war and the fact that the Weimar Republic government was serving the German people. The theme of physical activity has had a positive impact on the German population and allowed individuals to explore and expand this growing lifestyle. During the time of the Weimar Republic, women began to gain their own independence. Women were beginning to branch out and have the opportunity to live their lives without the title of housewife. The struggle that women have faced to prove themselves in society has led to women going through masculinization in order to complete their professional and domestic tasks. The masculinization of women also gained the name "New Woman" which showed the change in dress style and hairstyle while playing both masculine and feminine roles in order to reinvent themselves. As the Berliner Illustrirte Zeitung explains: “But the trend has gone even further; women no longer wanted to appear asexual; rather, fashion was increasingly calculated to make women's outward appearance more masculine... And we observe more and more often now that the bob haircut with its curls is disappearing, to be replaced by the modern, masculine hairstyle : elegant and brushed towards the back. Although the description was given of how women began to change their styles, the article went against ideas that women were going through this change and the "New Woman" wasseen as a threat due to women expressing themselves in a way that made them seem less feminine. . The criticism did not allow women to stop seeking change, but it created the motivation necessary to prove the idea of ​​equality towards men, even in physical activity. Women began participating in sports such as gymnastics, cycling, tennis, boxing and football during the Weimar period. which led sports commentators to speak out on many topics concerning women in sport. Commentators have often compared male and female athletes and the masculinization of women as being responsible for the increasing number of women participating in sport. Commenters also raised questions about women playing sports and how their bodies could potentially change due to physical activity and how this could also affect women's reproductive systems if pregnant, but these assumptions were proven wrong and the women had the ability to perform any physical activity without consequences. During the era of the Weimar Republic, sport gave women the opportunity to participate in activities initially reserved for men. In 1928, Paula Von Reznicek published a book entitled Auferstehung der Dame or translated as Resurrection of the Lady. Paula had a background as a woman who excelled in sport at an international level and pursued a career in journalism and writing. In Resurrection of Lady Paula gave readers a new perspective on women and stereotypes towards women's character and encouraged women to participate in sports while engaging in social activities and leading a lifestyle normal daily life. This image comes from The Resurrection of the Lady and shows how women can effortlessly live an athletic life while still retaining their character to engage in social activities. Women in the Weimar Republic made constant efforts to raise awareness of equality in various ways, including in sports. Despite gender differences, women also gained respect and proved themselves capable of physical activities, which became a popular topic among sports and women's equality. Women were able to impact society in the Weimar Republic because of their motivation to seek equality and respect to break out of the labels that women once had. Compared to women in sports, men did not have to deal with the cultural challenges that women faced because of their identity. During the time of the Weimar Republic, men participated in sports and other forms of physical activity and were actively involved. Younger men typically participated in competitive sports and competitions, while older men engaged in physical activities regularly. During the Weimar period, boxing became a popular sport among men. Male boxers in Germany dominated the boxing world and generally appealed to men based on the idea that male boxers were becoming a known icon and meeting the standard that men wanted to achieve, namely regaining their masculinity instead of be labeled as “soft”. Boxing matches were watched in many locations and spectators became well involved in the sport and were often seen cheering for the boxers and even participating in sports betting. As men continued to practice the sport of boxing, it gained attention from society as people glorified boxing and referred to it as a "purely male sport".". Boxing has also been recognized in literature and writers have often used boxing-related terms in many poems to promote the idea of ​​masculinity and the desire to win at anything in life, even if it is accompanied by aggressive force. Boxers were considered those who were not afraid to show their injuries to prove their strength. It was said that "the boxers were very proud of the bruises they had received during their fight, visible proof of their ability to endure..." The veteran's injuries only highlighted his helplessness in the face of mechanized combat. A boxer's bruises, on the other hand, symbolized dogged resilience in hand-to-hand engagement. In order to prove their status, boxers were not afraid to hide their scars, bruises or injuries because it shows the injuries they can withstand during matches, while veterans often do not show their injuries because it will be considered like a loss. Germany also liked the idea of ​​boxing because it was seen as a form of physical activity and entertainment, which led the Germans to like the way Americans boxed, which focused on the "knockout." As women underwent their transformation in sport, so did women. the boxers of Weimar Germany in order to experience cultural change. Sociologists would compare the boxing ring to a stage where boxers showcased their bravery and dominance that masked their work or educational backgrounds that they may have once had. Young working-class men in Weimar, Germany admired the stories of successful boxers who expressed the difficulties encountered on their path to success leading to status and wealth. It was difficult to make a living from boxing because the selections were close and only qualified boxers had the opportunity to earn the fame and fortune constantly advertised in the newspapers. Boxing was seen as the way out of working-class life, and because of the successes of German boxers, boxing was seen as the sport that could take boxers and their families from wrestling to success, attracting more men to the sport , even if they belonged to the working class. another sport. Ludwig Haymann is an example of boxing attracting individuals from other sports. Ludwig walked away from the sport of shot put as an Olympic-eligible athlete in order to find the financial success of a boxing career. In Weimar, Germany, people saw the income boxers made and it reflected the wealth they wanted to experience, but it also showed that rising financial expectations were linked to the success of professional boxers. In men's sports in the Weimar Republic, he influenced participation in sports, especially boxing, but he also had a cultural impact that is still popular in Germany. In Weimar Germany, sport was considered an important subject that was growing in popularity. Changes in physical activity requirements have impacted schools, clubs and the armed forces. For students, a bill was passed that made it mandatory for boys to participate in sports while in universities, sports were offered and athletes could participate in games and practices. During the war, military officials also noticed the benefits of sports due to the importance of physical activity. Physical sport requirements were therefore set in order to benefit the German army. High schools did not offer sports at the time, but recreational clubs allowed.