‘Ik ga nu proberen uit te vinden, of ik kan leven zonder werken.’

Gerda Brautigam (1913-1982), politica en journaliste

Samenvatting

This article covers the views of Gerda Brautigam (1913-1982), a Dutch journalist and politician in the Tweede Kamer for the PvdA between 1945-1972, on women in the work field. Brautigam herself radically put her career first, rather than living the traditional family life that was expected of women. As a journalist, she furthermore argued that (married) women should be able to work next to having a family, which was a progressive standpoint in the 1950s and 1960s. However, in the Tweede Kamer she did not defend these same views, nor did she question gender roles in family life or discuss women’s sexuality. She was therefore not as staunch in defending her views as the Dutch Second-wave feminists.