Module 2 · 8 min
What Went Wrong
How women were limited, steered to the loom, and written out of history.
"Tolerated rather than welcomed"
In an era when women could not receive a public education in many fields, Gropius proclaimed that the Bauhaus would be open to "any person of good repute, regardless of age or sex." The idea was so well received that in the first year more women applied than men. That caused concern: leaders worried that too high a proportion of female students would damage the new school's credibility.
Indeed, these pioneering creators were tolerated rather than welcomed.
Boxed in by gender
By many accounts, the early years of the Bauhaus confined women to areas considered "proper" for their gender. Gropius allegedly believed that men's and women's brains functioned differently: men could think in three dimensions, women could not. Young women could therefore develop their creativity in weaving, but were discouraged from architecture, sculpture or painting.
Interactive · Myth or Fact? · Card 1 of 5
Women were officially banned from the Bauhaus.
Fewer women, higher bar
Because of the initially high number of female students, Gropius changed the enrolment policy to accept "only women of extraordinary talents." This ultimately led to a decrease in female students.
No certificate, no career
Regrettably, the school did not offer apprenticeship certificates in weaving. That made it impossible for women to register with the Chamber of Trade, which prevented them from earning master's diplomas and placed lasting limits on their careers.
Interactive · The career ladder
Typical path for a craftsman
Path in weaving
Remembered as wives and assistants
Although the Bauhaus movement was populated by many women, the names recorded in history are those of men. Women creators are often remembered as their wives or assistants. Yet, shaped by their gender, Bauhaus women arguably turned this constraint into an advantage.
The loom becomes a laboratory
Weaving was seen as lesser, "women's work." But the weavers treated it as a serious field of experiment: new fibres, geometric pattern, colour theory, industrial prototypes. Their textiles were designed to be produced by machine and used in real buildings, from sound-absorbing wall coverings to upholstery. In the process they helped lay the foundations of modern textile design.
Can you think of a field today where a similar 'steering' happens? Write 2-3 sentences.
Kept for this visit only.
Check-in quiz
Quiz 2 · Question 1 of 4
Why did leaders worry about many female students?
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