She was born in 1882 and at the time in history when German culture was very similar to American culture in their regard for women. Both nations did a fair job of keeping women barred from education. Germany even had three “k” words to describe where a women’s role should be which were: Kinder (children), Kirche (church) and Küche (kitchen) (Lewis 1995). This status was mirrored in the United States. Where the two differed was in their governments and people. The U.S. government, by its nature of being run by popular vote, is and was open to change, its people however were stubborn to change. Germany, on the other hand, had a people who were more open to change but a government that was oppressive (Pugh 1997). Even with a majority of the populous vying for equality, it was not possible until the end of World War I.
German culture during Emmy’s life was starting to change. Most of the country was Protestant, a more accepting and less literal form of Christianity than Catholicism at the time. Some women, like Emmy Noether, were allowed into the workforce though they were not paid what men were and didn’t garner the same respect as their male coworkers. This particular kind of oppression meant that women were becoming intellectually free from men, but were still financially dependent on them. Technology was advancing though and many of these steps forward benefited women.
The tools available at the time for Noether to use revolved around communications devices as advanced as the telephone and radio. Communication was becoming faster and the transfer of ideas easier. Electricity was just taking off as a common source for power in Emmy’s childhood and adding more hours available to think and work instead of gathering a fuel source or sitting in the dark. Inventions like the dishwasher and vacuum cleaner, both appliances marketed mostly towards women, were invented during her lifetime furthering women’s station in life by easing a gendered household labor.
