The Pan-European Union’s Interpretation of Femininity and Women’s Agency in the Process of Integrating Europe
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 18 September 2026
This chapter examines how the Pan-European Union marketed itself as a feminine political outlet, while also trying to recast heroism/masculinity in a manner that was compatible with its antiwar objectives. Additionally, this chapter delves into women’s experiences in the German government more broadly to establish why PEU members argued governments needed a complete transformation. Despite gaining the right to vote, women involved in Weimar politics faced insurmountable obstacles and hostility. The PEU tried to appeal to politically active women by inviting them to join their movement, where their “unique skills and character” were vital to their success. Rather than being ostracized and shut out because of their sex, the PEU suggested women who supported European federalism would be honored and placed in positions of leadership.
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